Hymenolepiasis in a Pregnant Woman: A Case Report of Hymenolepis nana Infection

Gallic acid and Catechin induce morphological alterations on the zoonotic parasite Hymenolepis diminuta

Tapeworm infections cause insidious and irreversible effects in the infected individuals and some of them have already shown resistance to available drugs. A search for alternative treatment is urgently required. Phenolic compounds are amongst the most researched natural substances for their medicinal use. The present study aims to determine anthelmintic efficacy of two polyphenols Gallic acid and Catechin against the zoonotic rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. Both compounds are potent anti-oxidants and play major roles in combating pathogens, while their anthelmintic property according to our knowledge is yet to be explored. The parasite model H. diminuta was procured from intestine of infected rats raised in our laboratory. Two sets of parasites were treated in vitro with 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/ml concentrations of each Gallic Acid and Catechin separately, another set of parasites were treated with standard dose of Praziquantel in RPMI 1640, while still another set of worms were kept in RPMI 1640 at 37 ± 10C with 1% Dimethyl sulfoxide as control. Motility and structural alterations were the parameters assessed for anthelmintic efficacy of the compounds. After paralysis the worms were processed for morphological, histological, and ultrastructural study and observed under light and electron microscope. Dose-dependent efficacy was observed in both compounds. Shrinkage of suckers, deformed proglottids and architectural alteration of the tegument were observed throughout the body of treated parasites compared to control. Although in terms of time taken for paralysis and mortality Gallic acid was more effective than Catechin, the degree of morphological aberrations caused were almost similar, except histological alteration was more in Catechin treated worms than in Gallic acid. Nevertheless, both Gallic acid and Catechin are suggested to possess anthelmintic efficacy besides other health benefits but extended studies are required to compare their efficacy.

Comparative Comprehensive Analysis on Natural Infections of Hymenolepis Diminuta and Hymenolepis Nana in Commensal Rodents

This first comprehensive report from Punjab province of India relates to patho-physiological alterations alongwith morpho-molecular characterisation and risk assessment of natural infections of Hymenolepis diminuta and Hymenolepis nana in 291commensal rodents including house rat, Rattus rattus (n=201) and lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bangalensis (n=90). Small intestine of 53.61 and 64.95 % rats was found infected with H. diminuta and H. nana, respectively with a concurrent infection rate of 50.86 %. There was no association between male and female rats and H. diminuta and H. nana infections (ᵡ² = 0.016 and 0.08, respectively, d.f.= 1, P>0.05), while the host age had significant effect on prevalence of H. diminuta and H. nana (ᵡ² = 28.12 and 7.18, respectively, d.f.= 1, P≤0.05) infection. Examination of faecal samples and intestinal contents revealed globular shaped eggs of H. diminuta without polar filaments (76.50 ± 3.01μm x 67.62 ± 2.42 μm), while smaller sized oval eggs of H. nana were with 4 – 8 polar filaments (47.87 ± 1.95 μm x 36.12 ± 3.05 μm). Cestode infection caused enteritis, sloughing of intestinal mucosa, necrosis of villi and inflammatory reaction with infiltration of mononuclear cells in the mucosa and submucosa. Morphometric identification of the adult cestodes recovered from the intestinal lumen was confirmed by molecular characterisation based on nuclear ITS-2 loci which showed a single band of 269 bp and 242 bp for H. diminuta and H. nana, respectively. Pairwise alignment of the ITS-2 regions showed 99.46 % similarity with sequences of H. diminuta from USA and 100 % similarity with sequences of H. nana from Slovakia, Kosice.

Flea Communities on Small Rodents in Eastern Poland

Fleas are hematophagous insects infesting mainly small mammals and, less frequently, birds. With their wide range of potential hosts, fleas play a significant role in the circulation of pathogens in nature. Depending on the species, they can be vectors for viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, and protozoa and a host for some larval forms of tapeworm species. The aim of this study was to determine the species composition of fleas and their small rodent host preferences in eastern Poland. Animals were captured in traps in various types of ecological habitats (a site covered by grassland vegetation within city limits, an unused agricultural meadow, and a fallow land near a mixed forest). The following rodent species were caught: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Microtus arvalis, and Myodesglareolus. Additionally, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus assimilis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, and Nosopsyllus fasciatus flea species were identified. The peak of the flea activity was noted in summer months. C. agyrtes was found to be the most abundant flea species in eastern Poland, while the greatest numbers of fleas were collected from the rodent species A. agrarius.

Histopathological and biochemical studies on immunocompetent and immunocompromised Hymenolepis nana infected mice treated with Commiphora molmol (Mirazid)

Hymenolepiasis is a common parasitic infection of children and considered an opportunistic disease with a life-threatening effect among immunocompromised patients through cysticercoid dissemination. Mirazid (Commiphora molmol) is new phytotherapy for hymenolepiasis. So, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Mirazid treatment comparing to Praziquantel (PZQ) (standard treatment) among immunocompetent and immunocompromised infected albino mice through biochemical and histopathological parameters. A total of 60 clean male albino mice (immunocompetent group) were divided into equal five groups which were infected and treated with Mirazid beside PZQ. Another 72 infected immunocompromised animals were divided into equal six groups and were also treated with Mirazid and PZQ. Liver and kidney functions were estimated as well as histopathological examination of intestine and liver. Levels of AST in the serum of infected mice treated with Mirazid or PZQ recorded a highly significant increase compared to the normal control group. The percentage of increase was 83.30% and 36.60% respectively. While the infected group recorded a non-significant decrease in AST level and the percentage of decrease was - 7.4%. Immunocompetent groups showed a positive significant correlation with the control Mirazid or control PZQ groups recorded an increase in liver function enzymes (AST, Bilirubin, and GGT) (P < 0.001) comparing to the normal control group. In conclusion, Mirazid showed higher cure rates than PZQ, 95.45%, and 74.54% on the 15th and the 21st days, it reached 100% respectively associated with good improvement of histopathological changes in intestine and liver.

Molecular genotypes analysis of Cryptosporidium and Hymenolepis in rats on Lombok Island, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Cryptosporidium parvum and Hymenolepis nana are intestinal parasites that are commonly found in the unclean environment. Their presence in rats promotes the transmission of the cryptosporidiosis and hymenolepiasis to humans or animals nearby. This study aimed to determine the molecular characteristics of C. parvum and H. nana and their distribution in rats on Lombok Island. Materials and Methods: C. parvum and H. nana were investigated in 50 rats from Lombok Island. The molecular-parasitological technique used was polymerase chain reaction and sequencing method. Results: From 50 samples of rats' stool from 10 locations on Lombok Island, 8% (4/50) of C. parvum was detected molecularly with an 18S rRNA gene and 2% (1/50) of H. nana with COX 1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. parvum carrying rats on Lombok Island have a genetic relationship with C. parvum with Obi7 isolates, Japan and H. nana has a genetic relationship with Rodentolepis nana identified with Hn-VT isolates, India. Conclusion: The highest incidence of parasites was found in rats that were caught in the urban areas of Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Immediately, public health programs in these types of contaminated areas should receive priority attention to prevent further transmission of the parasites from animals to human beings.