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Roure S, Vallès X, Pérez-Quílez O, López-Muñoz I, Valerio L, Soldevila L, Chamorro A, Abad E, Hegazy AHA, Fernández-Rivas G, Gorriz E, Herena D, Fernández-Pedregal E, José AS, España-Cueto S, Paredes R, Miranda-Sánchez J, Miralles MC, Conde C, Montero JJ, Núñez-Andrés MA, Llibre JM, Isnard M, Bonet JM, Estrada O, Prat N, Clotet B. Morbidity burden of imported chronic schistosomiasis among West African migrants. J Infect 2024; 89:106234. [PMID: 39098555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106234] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Past exposure to schistosomiasis is frequent among migrants from endemic countries, and chronic untreated infection may lead to long-term morbidities. METHODS We carried out a prospective population-based cross-sectional study among migrants from endemic Sub-Saharan countries living in Barcelona, Spain. Participants had not been previously diagnosed or treated for schistosomiasis. Clinical signs and symptoms were scrutinised through a systematic revision of electronic medical records and an on-site standardised questionnaire, and blood and urine samples were screened for Schistosoma. FINDINGS We recruited 522 eligible participants, 74.3% males, mean age 42.7 years (SD=11.5, range 18-76), Overall, 46.4% were from Senegal and 23.6% from Gambia. They had lived in the European Union for a median of 16 years (IQR 10-21). The prevalence of a Schistosoma-positive serology was 35.8%. S. haematobium eggs were observed in urine samples in 6 (1.2%) participants. The most prevalent symptoms among Schistosoma-positive participants were chronic abdominal pain (68.8%, OR=1.79; 95%CI 1.2-2.6), eosinophilia (44.9%, OR=2.69; 95%CI 1.8-4.0) and specific symptoms associated with urinary schistosomiasis, like self-reported episodes of haematuria (37.2%; OR=2.47; 95%CI 1.6-3.8), dysuria (47.9%, OR=1.84; 95%CI=1.3-2.7) and current renal insufficiency (13.4%; OR=2.35; 95%CI=1.3-4.3). We found a significant prevalence of gender-specific genital signs and symptoms among females (mainly menstrual disorders) and males (erectile dysfunction and pelvic pain). Individuals typically presented with a multitude of interconnected symptoms, most commonly chronic abdominal pain, which are often disregarded. CONCLUSIONS Despite the lack of urine parasite identification, the high incidence of clinical signs and symptoms strongly correlated with a positive schistosomiasis serology suggests the existence of a heavy clinical burden among long-term West African migrants living for years/decades in the study region. More research is urgently required to determine whether these symptoms are the result of long-term sequelae or a persistent active Schistosoma infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Roure
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain; Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Vallès
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain; Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Olga Pérez-Quílez
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain
| | - Israel López-Muñoz
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain
| | - Lluís Valerio
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain
| | - Laura Soldevila
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain; Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Anna Chamorro
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain
| | - Elena Abad
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain
| | - Alaa H A Hegazy
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, Spain; Microbiology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of Asyut, El Fateh, Egypt
| | - Gema Fernández-Rivas
- Microbiology Department, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Ester Gorriz
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain
| | - Dolores Herena
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain
| | - Elia Fernández-Pedregal
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain; Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Alba San José
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain
| | - Sergio España-Cueto
- International Health Program (PROSICS), Direcció Territorial de Malalties Infeccioses Metropolitana Nord, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona 08914, Spain; Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Roger Paredes
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Jose Miranda-Sánchez
- North Metropolitan Primary Care Directorate, Institut Català de la Salut, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Maria Carme Miralles
- Primary Health Care Unit Canovelles, North Metropolitan Health Region from Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, Granollers, Spain
| | - Carmen Conde
- Primary Health Care Unit Canovelles, North Metropolitan Health Region from Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, Granollers, Spain
| | - Juan José Montero
- Primary Health Care Unit Mataró-3 (Rocafonda-Palau), North Metropolitan Health Region from Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, Mataró, Spain
| | - Maria Amparo Núñez-Andrés
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Llibre
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Mar Isnard
- North Metropolitan Primary Care Directorate, Institut Català de la Salut, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Josep Maria Bonet
- North Metropolitan Primary Care Directorate, Institut Català de la Salut, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Oriol Estrada
- Directorate for Innovation and Interdisciplinary Cooperation, North Metropolitan Territorial Health Region, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona, Spain
| | - Núria Prat
- North Metropolitan Primary Care Directorate, Institut Català de la Salut, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Clotet
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Badalona, Spain; IrsiCaixa-Institut de Recerca de La SIDA, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Direcció Territorial Malalties Infeccioses, North Metropolitan Territorial Health Region, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona, Spain
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Ouedraogo M, Hey JC, Hilt S, Rodriguez Fernandez V, Winter D, Razafindrakoto R, Hoekstra PT, Kabore Y, Fornili M, Baglietto L, Nebie I, van Dam GJ, Corstjens PLAM, Fusco D, Modiano D, Bruschi F, Mangano VD. Comparative evaluation of plasma biomarkers of Schistosoma haematobium infection in endemic populations from Burkina Faso. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012104. [PMID: 39292709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection with Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital disease associated with organ disfunction, bleeding, pain, and higher susceptibility to infections and cancer. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for prompt and appropriate treatment as well as surveillance efforts, and the use of plasma biomarkers offers important advantages over parasitological examination of urine, including increased sensitivity and the possibility to use the same specimen for multiple investigations. The present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different plasma biomarkers in endemic populations from Burkina Faso, West Africa. Schistosoma spp. Circulating Anodic Antigen (CAA), cell free S. haematobium DNA (cfDNA), class M and G antibodies against S. haematobium Soluble Worm Antigen Preparation (SWAP) and Soluble Egg Antigen (SEA) were measured in 406 plasma samples. Results of each biomarker test were compared to those of CAA, a Composite Reference Standard (CRS) and Latent Class Analysis (LCA). An identical proportion of positive samples (29%) was observed as a result of CAA and cfDNA testing, with a substantial agreement (84%, Cohen k = 0.62) between the results of the two tests, and a comparable agreement with the results of CRS and LCA. A higher positivity was observed, as expected, as a result of specific antibody testing (47%-72%), with IgG showing a higher agreement than IgM with the three references. Also, higher IgG levels were observed in current vs past infection, and ROC analysis identified optimal cutoff values for improved testing accuracy. This study provides compelling evidence that can inform the choice of the most appropriate diagnostic plasma biomarker for urogenital schistosomiasis in endemic areas, depending on the purpose, context, and available resources for testing. Either CAA or cfDNA testing can be used for the diagnosis of patients and for epidemiological investigations, even in absence of urine filtration microscopy, whereas anti-SWAP or anti-SEA IgG can be employed for surveillance and integrated monitoring of control interventions against poverty-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Ouedraogo
- Department of Translational Research in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Centre National de Recherche et Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Jana Christina Hey
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stan Hilt
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Doris Winter
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Pytsje T Hoekstra
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Youssouf Kabore
- Centre National de Recherche et Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Marco Fornili
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Baglietto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Issa Nebie
- Centre National de Recherche et Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Govert J van Dam
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Paul L A M Corstjens
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Centre d'infectiologie Charles Merieux, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Germany
| | - David Modiano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bruschi
- Department of Translational Research in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina D Mangano
- Department of Translational Research in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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3
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Polack B, Mathieu-Bégné E, Vallée I, Rognon A, Fontaine JJ, Toulza E, Thomas M, Boissier J. Experimental Infections Reveal Acquired Zoonotic Capacity of Human Schistosomiasis Trough Hybridization. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1904-1908. [PMID: 38669235 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We are currently witnessing the endemization of urogenital schistosomiasis in southern Europe. The incriminated parasite is a hybrid between a human parasite and a livestock parasite. Using an experimental evolutionary protocol, we created hybrid lines from pure strains of both parasite species. We showed that the host spectrum of the human parasite is enlarged to the livestock parasite after genomic introgression. We also evidenced that the tropism of the parasites within the host changes and that some hybrid lines are more virulent than the parental strains. These results engage a paradigm shift from human to zoonotic transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Polack
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Isabelle Vallée
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Anne Rognon
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Fontaine
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eve Toulza
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Myriam Thomas
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
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Perera DJ, Koger-Pease C, Paulini K, Daoudi M, Ndao M. Beyond schistosomiasis: unraveling co-infections and altered immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009823. [PMID: 38319102 PMCID: PMC10938899 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00098-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the helminth Schistosoma spp. and has the second highest global impact of all parasites. Schistosoma are transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water predominantly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Due to the widespread prevalence of Schistosoma, co-infection with other infectious agents is common but often poorly described. Herein, we review recent literature describing the impact of Schistosoma co-infection between species and Schistosoma co-infection with blood-borne protozoa, soil-transmitted helminths, various intestinal protozoa, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, various urinary tract infection-causing agents, and viral pathogens. In each case, disease severity and, of particular interest, the immune landscape, are altered as a consequence of co-infection. Understanding the impact of schistosomiasis co-infections will be important when considering treatment strategies and vaccine development moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhan J. Perera
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cal Koger-Pease
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Daoudi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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5
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Gimmelli R, Papoff G, Saccoccia F, Lalli C, Gemma S, Campiani G, Ruberti G. Effects of structurally distinct human HDAC6 and HDAC6/HDAC8 inhibitors against S. mansoni larval and adult worm stages. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011992. [PMID: 38416775 PMCID: PMC10927086 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a major neglected parasitic disease that affects more than 240 million people worldwide caused by Platyhelminthes of the genus Schistosoma. The treatment of schistosomiasis relies on the long-term application of a single safe drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Unfortunately, PZQ is very effective on adult parasites and poorly on larval stage and immature juvenile worms; this can partially explain the re-infection in endemic areas where patients are likely to host parasites at different developmental stages concurrently. Moreover, the risk of development of drug resistance because of the widespread use of a single drug in a large population is nowadays a serious threat. Hence, research aimed at identifying novel drugs to be used alone or in combination with PZQ is needed. Schistosomes display morphologically distinct stages during their life cycle and epigenetic mechanisms are known to play important roles in parasite growth, survival, and development. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, particularly HDAC8, are considered valuable for therapeutic intervention for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Herein, we report the phenotypic screening on both larvae and adult Schistosoma mansoni stages of structurally different HDAC inhibitors selected from the in-house Siena library. All molecules have previously shown inhibition profiles on human HDAC6 and/or HDAC8 enzymes. Among them we identified a quinolone-based HDAC inhibitor, NF2839, that impacts larval and adult parasites as well as egg viability and maturation in vitro. Importantly, this quinolone-based compound also increases histone and tubulin acetylation in S. mansoni parasites, thus representing a leading candidate for the development of new generation anti-Schistosoma chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gimmelli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuliana Papoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Saccoccia
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Lalli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giovina Ruberti
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
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7
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Comelli A, Genovese C, Gobbi F, Brindicci G, Capone S, Corpolongo A, Crosato V, Mangano VD, Marrone R, Merelli M, Prato M, Santoro CR, Scarso S, Vanino E, Marchese V, Antinori S, Mastroianni C, Raglio A, Bruschi F, Minervini A, Donà D, Garazzino S, Galli L, Lo Vecchio A, Galli A, Dragoni G, Cricelli C, Colacurci N, Ferrazzi E, Pieralli A, Montresor A, Richter J, Calleri G, Bartoloni A, Zammarchi L. Schistosomiasis in non-endemic areas: Italian consensus recommendations for screening, diagnosis and management by the Italian Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (SIMET), endorsed by the Committee for the Study of Parasitology of the Italian Association of Clinical Microbiologists (CoSP-AMCLI), the Italian Society of Parasitology (SoIPa), the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy (SIGE), the Italian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SIGO), the Italian Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology (SICPCV), the Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care (SIMG), the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SIMIT), the Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP), the Italian Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SITIP), the Italian Society of Urology (SIU). Infection 2023; 51:1249-1271. [PMID: 37420083 PMCID: PMC10545632 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02050-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Comelli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Genovese
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- II Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
- University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gaetano Brindicci
- AOU Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, Infectious Diseases Unit, Bari, Italy
| | - Susanna Capone
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Angela Corpolongo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani' (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Verena Crosato
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Dianora Mangano
- Department of Translational Research, N.T.M.S, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Programma Di Monitoraggio Delle Parassitosi e f.a.d, AOU Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rosalia Marrone
- National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Merelli
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria del Friuli Centrale, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Prato
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Scarso
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Vanino
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale "Santa Maria delle Croci", AUSL Romagna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Valentina Marchese
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Spinello Antinori
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Mastroianni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annibale Raglio
- Committee for the Study of Parasitology of the Italian Association of Clinical Microbiologists (CoSP-AMCLI), Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bruschi
- Department of Translational Research, N.T.M.S, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Programma Di Monitoraggio Delle Parassitosi e f.a.d, AOU Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Minervini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Urology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Donà
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department for Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Garazzino
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Galli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Lo Vecchio
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Galli
- Gastroenterology Research Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriele Dragoni
- Gastroenterology Research Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Cricelli
- Health Search-Istituto di Ricerca della SIMG (Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care), Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola Colacurci
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Enrico Ferrazzi
- Department of Woman, New-Born and Child, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pieralli
- Ginecologia Chirurgica Oncologica, Careggi University and Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonio Montresor
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Richter
- Institute of International Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Corporate Member of Freie und Humboldt Universität Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Calleri
- Amedeo Di Savoia Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
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Idigoras Viedma P, Gomariz Díaz M, Manzanal Pérez A, Alkorta Gurrutxaga M. [Sub-Saharan migrants, sterile pyuria and schistosomiasis]. Semergen 2023; 49:101952. [PMID: 37336035 DOI: 10.1016/j.semerg.2023.101952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Idigoras Viedma
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Osakidetza, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España.
| | - M Gomariz Díaz
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Osakidetza, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España
| | - A Manzanal Pérez
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Osakidetza, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España
| | - M Alkorta Gurrutxaga
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Osakidetza, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España
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9
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Abstract
Purpose of Review With climate change being the single biggest health threat facing humanity, this review aims to identify the climate-sensitive health risks to the traveler and to recognize the role that travel plays in contributing to the detrimental effects of climate change. With this understanding, adaptations for transformational action can be made. Recent Findings Travel and tourism, including transportation, food consumption, and accommodation, is responsible for a large percentage of the world’s carbon emissions which is contributing to the climate change crisis at an alarming rate. Climate change is a health emergency that is resulting in a rise of significant health impacts to the traveler including increased heat illnesses; food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases; and increasing risk of exposure to emerging infectious diseases. Patterns of future travel and destination choices are likely to change due to climactic factors such as temperature and extreme weather events, forced migration, degradation, and disappearance of popular and natural tourist destinations. Summary Global warming is and will continue to alter the landscape of travel medicine with expansion of transmission seasons and geographic ranges of disease, increased risk of infections and harmful marine toxins, and introduction of emerging infections to naïve populations. This will have implications for pre-travel counseling in assessing risk and discussing the environmental influences on travel. Travelers and stakeholders should be engaged in a dialogue to understand their “climate footprint,” to innovate sustainable solutions, and be empowered to make immediate, conscientious, and responsible choices to abate the impact of breaching critical temperature thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha N. Khatib
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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10
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Geographical Influence on Morphometric Variability of Genetically “Pure” Schistosoma haematobium Eggs from Sub-Saharan Migrants in Spain. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8030144. [PMID: 36977146 PMCID: PMC10054267 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8030144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosome eggs play a key role in schistosomiasis diagnosis and research. The aim of this work is to morphogenetically study the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium found in sub-Saharan migrants present in Spain, analyzing their morphometric variation in relation to the geographical origin of the parasite (Mali, Mauritania and Senegal). Only eggs considered “pure” S. haematobium by genetic characterization (rDNA ITS-2 and mtDNA cox1) have been used. A total of 162 eggs obtained from 20 migrants from Mali, Mauritania and Senegal were included in the study. Analyses were made by the Computer Image Analysis System (CIAS). Following a previously standardized methodology, seventeen measurements were carried out on each egg. The morphometric analysis of the three morphotypes detected (round, elongated and spindle) and the biometric variations in relation to the country of origin of the parasite on the egg phenotype were carried out by canonical variate analysis. Mahalanobis distances, when all egg measurements were analyzed, showed differences between: (i) Mali-Mauritania, Mali-Senegal and Mauritania-Senegal in the round morphotype; (ii) Mali-Mauritania and Mauritania-Senegal in the elongated morphotype; and (iii) Mauritania-Senegal in the spindle morphotype. Mahalanobis distances, when spine variables were analyzed, showed differences between Mali-Senegal in the round morphotype. In conclusion, this is the first phenotypic study performed on individually genotyped “pure” S. haematobium eggs, allowing the assessment of the intraspecific morphological variations associated with the geographical origin of the schistosome eggs.
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11
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Reinholdt C, Winkelmann F, Koslowski N, Reisinger EC, Sombetzki M. Unisexual infection with Schistosoma mansoni in mice has the potential to boost the immune response against eggs after challenge infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1125912. [PMID: 36923416 PMCID: PMC10009330 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The complexity of the Schistosoma spp. life cycle and their effective immune evasion strategies, makes vaccine development challenging. Unisexual infection models, that excludes any immunomodulatory effects of the parasite eggs, may contribute to a better understanding of complex immunological processes and identification of new targets for vaccine research. We have recently shown that long-term unisexual infection with schistosomes in mice results in an unpolarized Th1/Th2 response associated with an abnormally enlarged spleen and diffuse liver inflammation. Herein, we investigated whether (i) unisexual worms can mate after three months of single sex infection and (ii) thus the Th2 response induced by oviposition can reverse or heal the described systemic inflammation. Methods Therefore, we infected 6-8 weeks old female C57BL/6j mice with 100 male or female cercariae and reinfected with the opposite sex for the same period after 12 weeks. At 24 weeks after initial infection, we histologically examined worm mating, as evidenced by the presence of parasite eggs, infection-related pathology associated with eggs, and characterization of fibrosis in the livers. Results Single worms are able to mate months after unisexual infection and start oviposition. Egg deposition has been associated with a typical Th2 immune response in the liver after unisexual reinfection, accompanied by increased recruitment of CD4+ T cells. Hepatic collagen levels were significantly increased in the reinfected groups compared to the naive and unisexually infected group. Discussion Our results indicate that the eggs are able to restore the Th1/Th2 immune balance of a previous unisexual infection. However, the organ damage caused by the unisexual worms does not subside, but rather provides the baseline for the emerging egg-triggered inflammation and fibrosis. Since single schistosomes can mate even several weeks after unisexual infection and then accumulate worm- and egg-related organ damage, infection status without positive egg detection is very important, especially in areas with low prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Reinholdt
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Franziska Winkelmann
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nicole Koslowski
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Emil C Reisinger
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Martina Sombetzki
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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12
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Niederfahrenhorst A, Rothe C. [Important parasitic infections in returning travellers and migrants]. MMW Fortschr Med 2022; 164:54-61. [PMID: 36413296 DOI: 10.1007/s15006-022-1903-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Niederfahrenhorst
- Abteilung für Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802, München, Deutschland.
| | - Camilla Rothe
- Abteilung für Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802, München, Deutschland
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13
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Berger DJ, Léger E, Sankaranarayanan G, Sène M, Diouf ND, Rabone M, Emery A, Allan F, Cotton JA, Berriman M, Webster JP. Genomic evidence of contemporary hybridization between Schistosoma species. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010706. [PMID: 35939508 PMCID: PMC9387932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization between different species of parasites is increasingly being recognised as a major public and veterinary health concern at the interface of infectious diseases biology, evolution, epidemiology and ultimately control. Recent research has revealed that viable hybrids and introgressed lineages between Schistosoma spp. are prevalent across Africa and beyond, including those with zoonotic potential. However, it remains unclear whether these hybrid lineages represent recent hybridization events, suggesting hybridization is ongoing, and/or whether they represent introgressed lineages derived from ancient hybridization events. In human schistosomiasis, investigation is hampered by the inaccessibility of adult-stage worms due to their intravascular location, an issue which can be circumvented by post-mortem of livestock at abattoirs for Schistosoma spp. of known zoonotic potential. To characterise the composition of naturally-occurring schistosome hybrids, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 21 natural livestock infective schistosome isolates. To facilitate this, we also assembled a de novo chromosomal-scale draft assembly of Schistosoma curassoni. Genomic analyses identified isolates of S. bovis, S. curassoni and hybrids between the two species, all of which were early generation hybrids with multiple generations found within the same host. These results show that hybridization is an ongoing process within natural populations with the potential to further challenge elimination efforts against schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan J. Berger
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elsa Léger
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mariama Sène
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche des Sciences Agronomiques, d’Aquaculture et de Technologies Alimentaires, Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Senegal
| | - Nicolas D. Diouf
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche des Sciences Agronomiques, d’Aquaculture et de Technologies Alimentaires, Université Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis, Senegal
| | - Muriel Rabone
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, Cromwell Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aidan Emery
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, Cromwell Road, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Allan
- The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, Cromwell Road, London, United Kingdom
- Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, Gatty Marine Laboratory, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - James A. Cotton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne P. Webster
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Wellinghausen N, Moné H, Mouahid G, Nebel A, Tappe D, Gabriel M. A family cluster of schistosomiasis acquired in Solenzara River, Corsica (France) - Solenzara River is clearly a transmission site for schistosomiasis in Corsica. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2449-2452. [PMID: 35715618 PMCID: PMC9279187 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07574-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We report a patient with urogenital schistosomiasis and three cases of subclinical infection within one family acquired from Solenzara River, Corsica, in 2019. Our cases confirm that transmission of schistosomiasis in Corsica is ongoing and has been extended from the Cavu River to the Solenzara River. Solenzara River is clearly a transmission site for schistosomiasis in Corsica. Public health efforts are recommended to uncover and prevent further cases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hélène Moné
- UMR 5244 IHPE Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Perpignan, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Gabriel Mouahid
- UMR 5244 IHPE Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Perpignan, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | | | - Dennis Tappe
- National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Gabriel
- National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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15
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Jordan S, Kreuels B. [Parasites - important endemic and imported pathogens]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2022; 147:687-696. [PMID: 35636420 DOI: 10.1055/a-1664-7518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are a diverse group of pathogens; they range from unicellular protozoa (e. g. Giardia lamblia) to tapeworms that can grow several meters long. Parasites have adapted to humans over millions of years and cause a wide, colorful variety of diseases. Due to increasing travel and climate change, previously rare pathogens occur more frequently in patients in Germany.Often the history, clinical findings and imaging are suggestive of the causative parasite and the suspected diagnosis only needs to be confirmed with pathogen detection in order to initiate targeted therapy. Nonetheless, the diagnosis is often delayed due to lack of experience of attending clinicians with parasitic infections.In this review article we give an overview of the epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis and treatment of some of the most common parasitic infections that are endemic, or regularly imported to Germany. We also discuss current and future challenges in the diagnosis, treatment and control of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benno Kreuels
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf.,Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin
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16
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Comparative mitogenomics of freshwater snails of the genus Bulinus, obligatory vectors of Schistosoma haematobium, causative agent of human urogenital schistosomiasis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5357. [PMID: 35354876 PMCID: PMC8967911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09305-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractAmong the snail genera most responsible for vectoring human-infecting schistosomes, Bulinus, Biomphalaria, and Oncomelania, the former is in many respects the most important. Bulinid snails host the most common human blood fluke, Schistosoma haematobium, responsible for approximately two-thirds of the estimated 237 million cases of schistosomiasis. They also support transmission of schistosomes to millions of domestic and wild animals. Nonetheless, our basic knowledge of the 37 Bulinus species remains incomplete, especially with respect to genome information, even including mitogenome sequences. We determined complete mitogenome sequences for Bulinus truncatus, B. nasutus, and B. ugandae, and three representatives of B. globosus from eastern, central, and western Kenya. A difference of the location of tRNA-Asp was found between mitogenomes from the three species of the Bulinus africanus group and B. truncatus. Phylogenetic analysis using partial cox1 sequences suggests that B. globosus is a complex comprised of multiple species. We also highlight the status of B. ugandae as a distinct species with unusual interactions with the S. haematobium group parasites deserving of additional investigation. We provide sequence data for potential development of genetic markers for specific or intraspecific Bulinus studies, help elucidate the relationships among Bulinus species, and suggest ways in which mitogenomes may help understand the complex interactions between Schistosoma and Bulinus snails and their relatives.
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17
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Hybridization increases genetic diversity in Schistosoma haematobium populations infecting humans in Cameroon. Infect Dis Poverty 2022; 11:37. [PMID: 35346375 PMCID: PMC8962594 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-022-00958-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hybrids between Schistosoma haematobium (Sh) and S. bovis (Sb) have been found in several African countries as well as in Europe. Since the consequences of this hybridization are still unknown, this study aims to verify the presence of such hybrids in Cameroonian humans, to describe the structure of S. haematobium populations on a large geographic scale, and to examine the impact of these hybrids on genetic diversity and structure of these populations.
Methods From January to April 2019, urine from infected children was collected in ten geographically distinct populations. Miracidia were collected from eggs in this urine. To detect the presence of hybrids among these miracidia we genotyped both Cox1 (RD-PCR) and ITS2 gene (PCR-RFLP). Population genetic diversity and structure was assessed by genotyping each miracidium with a panel of 14 microsatellite markers. Gene diversity was measured using both heterozygosity and allelic richness indexes, and genetic structure was analyzed using paired Fst, PCA and Bayesian approaches. Results Of the 1327 miracidia studied, 88.7% were identified as pure genotypes of S. haematobium (Sh_Sh/Sh) while the remaining 11.3% were hybrids (7.0% with Sh_Sh/Sb, 3.7% with Sb_Sb/Sh and 0.4% with Sb_Sh/Sb). No miracidium has been identified as a pure genotype of S. bovis. Allelic richness ranged from 5.55 (Loum population) to 7.73 (Matta-Barrage) and differed significantly between populations. Mean heterozygosity ranged from 53.7% (Loum) to 59% (Matta Barrage) with no significant difference. The overall genetic differentiation inferred either by a principal component analysis or by the Bayesian approach shows a partial structure. Southern populations (Loum and Matta Barrage) were clearly separated from other localities but genetic differentiation between northern localities was limited, certainly due to the geographic proximity between these sites. Conclusions Hybrids between S. haematobium and S. bovis were identified in 11.3% of miracidia that hatched from eggs present in the urine of Cameroonian schoolchildren. The percentages of these hybrids are correlated with the genetic diversity of the parasite, indicating that hybridization increases genetic diversity in our sampling sites. Hybridization is therefore a major biological process that shapes the genetic diversity of S. haematobium. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-022-00958-0.
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18
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Kreuels B, Schmiedel S. [Potential of tropical diseases in Germany : Important pathogens in travelers and migrants]. Internist (Berl) 2022; 63:379-387. [PMID: 35244737 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-022-01280-5] [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] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal infections are among the most frequent imported diseases diagnosed in Germany in travelers or migrants from the tropics. Acute traveler's diarrhea is the most frequent illness in long-distance travelers and in high-risk areas (e.g. India, Mexico) around one third of all travelers suffer from diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea plays a role especially after longer stays abroad (> 4 weeks) and in migrants and is often caused by protozoa. Helminths are less frequently the causative agent of gastrointestinal complaints (diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain). A worm infestation of the large and small intestines is often present but helminths can also affect the liver or lead to generalized symptoms of illness when larvae migrate. In principle, in the case of gastrointestinal complaints after exposure to the tropics, the possibility of an imported tropical endemic infectious disease must be considered and appropriate diagnostics initiated. For travelers returning from tropical countries other, sometimes life-threatening diseases, such as malaria, typhoid fever, rickettsiosis and viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) can present with gastrointestinal symptoms and should never be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benno Kreuels
- Sektionen Infektiologie undTropenmedizin, I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland.
| | - Stefan Schmiedel
- Sektionen Infektiologie undTropenmedizin, I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland.
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19
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Morphological and genomic characterisation of the Schistosoma hybrid infecting humans in Europe reveals admixture between Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0010062. [PMID: 34941866 PMCID: PMC8741037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes cause schistosomiasis, the world's second most important parasitic disease after malaria in terms of public health and social-economic impacts. A peculiar feature of these dioecious parasites is their ability to produce viable and fertile hybrid offspring. Originally only present in the tropics, schistosomiasis is now also endemic in southern Europe. Based on the analysis of two genetic markers the European schistosomes had previously been identified as hybrids between the livestock- and the human-infective species Schistosoma bovis and Schistosoma haematobium, respectively. Here, using PacBio long-read sequencing technology we performed genome assembly improvement and annotation of S. bovis, one of the parental species for which no satisfactory genome assembly was available. We then describe the whole genome introgression levels of the hybrid schistosomes, their morphometric parameters (eggs and adult worms) and their compatibility with two European snail strains used as vectors (Bulinus truncatus and Planorbarius metidjensis). Schistosome-snail compatibility is a key parameter for the parasites life cycle progression, and thus the capability of the parasite to establish in a given area. Our results show that this Schistosoma hybrid is strongly introgressed genetically, composed of 77% S. haematobium and 23% S. bovis origin. This genomic admixture suggests an ancient hybridization event and subsequent backcrosses with the human-specific species, S. haematobium, before its introduction in Corsica. We also show that egg morphology (commonly used as a species diagnostic) does not allow for accurate hybrid identification while genetic tests do.
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20
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Arsuaga M, Díaz-Menéndez M, Gobbi FG. Autochthonous schistosomiasis in Europe: A silent threat. Travel Med Infect Dis 2021; 45:102244. [PMID: 34942375 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Arsuaga
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Hospital Universitario La Paz-Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta Díaz-Menéndez
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Hospital Universitario La Paz-Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Giovanni Gobbi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
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21
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Evidence of autochthonous transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in Almeria (southeast Spain): An outbreak analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis 2021; 44:102165. [PMID: 34555514 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is endemic in 78 countries belonging to tropical and subtropical areas. However, autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis was reported in Corsica (France) in 2013. We present evidence of autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in Almería (Spain) in 2003. METHODS Description of the outbreak in farmers and subsequent epidemiological studies aimed at searching for Bulinus snails and their genotypic characteristics. RESULTS The outbreak affected 4 farmers out of a group of 5 people who repeatedly bathed that summer in an irrigation pool in the area. Two of them presented macroscopic hematuria with bilharziomas, showing the presence of Schistosoma eggs in bladder biopsies. Two others were asymptomatic but the serology for schistosomiasis was positive. In 2015, the presence of the vector Bulinus truncatus was demonstrated in Almería in water collections of appropriate characteristics. DNA sequencing proving that local B. truncatus species were base-to-base identical to B. truncatus from Senegal. CONCLUSIONS We present a new outbreak of autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in Europe. Although no new cases of autochthonous transmission have been reported, some other cases may have occurred at that time or later on and be unnoticed as many cases of schistosomiasis are asymptomatic or present mild and unspecific symptoms.
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22
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Panzner U, Boissier J. Natural Intra- and Interclade Human Hybrid Schistosomes in Africa with Considerations on Prevention through Vaccination. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071465. [PMID: 34361901 PMCID: PMC8305539 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Causal agents of schistosomiasis are dioecious, digenean schistosomes affecting mankind in 76 countries. Preventive measures are manifold but need to be complemented by vaccination for long-term protection; vaccine candidates in advanced pre-clinical/clinical stages include Sm14, Sm-TSP-2/Sm-TSP-2Al®, Smp80/SchistoShield®, and Sh28GST/Bilhvax®. Natural and anthropogenic changes impact on breaking species isolation barriers favoring introgressive hybridization, i.e., allelic exchange among gene pools of sympatric, interbreeding species leading to instant large genetic diversity. Phylogenetic distance matters, thus the less species differ phylogenetically the more likely they hybridize. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for publications limited to hybridale confirmation by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and/or nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Human schistosomal hybrids are predominantly reported from West Africa with clustering in the Senegal River Basin, and scattering to Europe, Central and Eastern Africa. Noteworthy is the dominance of Schistosoma haematobium interbreeding with human and veterinary species leading due to hybrid vigor to extinction and homogenization as seen for S. guineensis in Cameroon and S. haematobium in Niger, respectively. Heterosis seems to advantage S. haematobium/S. bovis interbreeds with dominant S. haematobium-ITS/S. bovis-COX1 profile to spread from West to East Africa and reoccur in France. S. haematobium/S. mansoni interactions seen among Senegalese and Côte d’Ivoirian children are unexpected due to their high phylogenetic distance. Detecting pure S. bovis and S. bovis/S. curassoni crosses capable of infecting humans observed in Corsica and Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger, respectively, is worrisome. Taken together, species hybridization urges control and preventive measures targeting human and veterinary sectors in line with the One-Health concept to be complemented by vaccination protecting against transmission, infection, and disease recurrence. Functional and structural diversity of naturally occurring human schistosomal hybrids may impact current vaccine candidates requiring further research including natural history studies in endemic areas targeted for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Panzner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-176-6657-2910
| | - Jerome Boissier
- IHPE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, University of Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan, France;
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hotez
- Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Rey O, Webster BL, Huyse T, Rollinson D, Van den Broeck F, Kincaid-Smith J, Onyekwere A, Boissier J. Population genetics of African Schistosoma species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 89:104727. [PMID: 33486128 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Blood flukes within the genus Schistosoma (schistosomes) are responsible for the major disease, schistosomiasis, in tropical and sub-tropical areas. This disease is predominantly present on the African continent with more than 85% of the human cases. Schistosomes are also parasites of veterinary importance infecting livestock and wildlife. Schistosoma population genetic structure and diversity are important characteristics that may reflect variations in selection pressures such as those induced by host (mammalian and snail) environments, habitat change, migration and also treatment/control interventions, all of which also shape speciation and evolution of the whole Schistosoma genus. Investigations into schistosome population genetic structure, diversity and evolution has been an area of important debate and research. Supported by advances in molecular techniques with capabilities for multi-locus genetic analyses for single larvae schistosome genetic investigations have greatly progressed in the last decade. This paper aims to review the genetic studies of both animal and human infecting schistosome. Population genetic structures are reviewed at different spatial scales: local, regional or continental (i.e. phylogeography). Within species genetic diversities are discussed compared and the compounding factors discussed, including the effect of mass drug administration. Finally, the ability for intra-species hybridisation questions species integrities and poses many questions in relation to the natural epidemiology of co-endemic species. Here we review molecularly confirmed hybridisation events (in relation to human disease) and discuss the possible impact for ongoing and future control and elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Rey
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France
| | - B L Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London School of Public Health, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - T Huyse
- Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium; Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Ch. Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - D Rollinson
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London School of Public Health, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - F Van den Broeck
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J Kincaid-Smith
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences (PPS), Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, Herts AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
| | - A Onyekwere
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France
| | - J Boissier
- Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, UPVD, IHPE, F-66000 Perpignan, France.
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