Journal of Parasitology Research

Among small ruminants, lungworms are important parasitic nematodes that infect the lower respiratory tract and are implicated in a high mortality and morbidity rate. However, the magnitude and its determinants of lungworm infection in the study districts are not known. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and assess associated risk factors in selected districts, Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. A total of 742 fecal samples collected from 443 sheep and 299 goats were examined, using modified Baermann techniques, to recover first-stage larvae from fecal samples. Lungworms were detected in 271 (36.52%) samples infecting 192 (43.34%) sheep and 79 (26.42%) goats, respectively. Lungworm species Dictyocaulus filaria, Protostrongylus rufescens, and Muellerius capillaris were recovered in 114 (15.36%), 68 (9.16%), and 57 (7.68%) fecal samples, respectively. Mixed infection by two or more above species was noted in 32 (4.31%) of the samples. Among the determinants examined, agroecological environment, management system, and season showed statistically significant differences () with the prevalence of infection in small ruminants. On the other hand, lungworm infection among sexes, age groups, and body condition scores showed no statistically significant difference (). The present study indicated that lungworm infection was a problem for sheep and goats in this study area. Thus, measures like deworming, early treatment, and improving animal husbandry should be practiced.

Malaria presents a huge threat to pregnant women, their foetus, and children below five years. This study is aimed at assessing malaria prevalence, associated clinical symptoms, and urine abnormalities among pregnant women in Aba metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study involving 450 pregnant women purposively selected from nine health care centres was conducted. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. The overall malaria prevalence rate was 68.4% (). Age group of 21-25 years had the highest prevalence rate of 20.4% () while the least was recorded among the age group of 41-45 years (17 (3.8%)). Pregnant women in their first trimester had the greatest prevalence rate of 28.6% (), and the least prevalence was recorded among those in their third trimester (7 (15.6%)). The primigravidae were mostly infected at the rate of 27.7% () whereas the multigravidae recorded the least prevalence of 85 (18.9%). Participants with secondary education were the most susceptible at the rate of 38.6% (). The infected participants exhibited significantly higher frequencies of reported fever (, OR 12.881, 95% CI 3.977-41.725) and headaches (, OR 4.688, 95% CI 1.819-12.083). However, cold, cough, body pains, poor appetite, and catarrh showed no significant association with malaria infection at . Participants using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) showed significantly lower prevalence rate of malaria infection (, OR 2.485, 95% CI 1.619-3.814). Malaria-infected participants showed statistically significant frequencies of proteinuria (, OR 274.14, 95% CI 16.91-4444.0), bilirubinuria (, OR 49.29, 95% CI 11.01-186.34), and urobilinogenuria (, OR 65.16, 95% CI 4.00-1062.40) than those not infected. Ascorbic acid, nitrate, and ketone showed no significant associations with malaria infection at . Infected participants had statistically significant amber and clear urine colour whereas there was no statistically significant difference between the pH levels of urine of the malaria-infected and malaria-noninfected pregnant women.

Background. Micronutrient deficiency is a great problem that is augmented by infection and poor nutrition. Iron, zinc, and selenium are trace elements needed for human growth. Objective. To investigate the impact of parasitic infection on nutritional status and serum iron, zinc, and selenium in children attending Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic of Zagazig University Hospitals. Subjects and Methods. A case-control study included 140 parasitic infected children and one hundred age- and sex-matched controls. Anthropometric measures were evaluated using specific Egyptian growth charts. Parasites were detected in stool specimens using standard microscopic methods. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the detection of serum iron, zinc, and selenium. To examine the statistical relationship between intestinal parasitic infection and the relevant variables (gender, residence, socioeconomic status, and age group), the nonparametric chi-square () test was used. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 25. Results. Parasitic infected children showed a statistically significant low weight for age, height for age, and BMI. Serum iron, zinc, and selenium were significantly lower in parasitic infected children than controls. Serum iron, zinc, and selenium have significant positive correlations with weight, height, and BMI, respectively. Conclusion. Studied serum micronutrients especially zinc and iron and anthropometric indices were significantly lower in parasitically infected children.

Background. The spread of drug resistance is a significant issue, particularly in endemic countries with limited resources. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimalarial and antioxidant activity of B. micrantha in order to justify its use in traditional medicine. Methods. Evaluation of the in vivo antimalarial activity of B. micrantha was carried out according to the model of the suppressive and curative test of Peters’ over 4 days in infected Swiss albino mice. Antioxidant parameters and stress were measured after intraperitoneal administration of infected red blood cells. Results. At doses of 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg, administration of B. micrantha substantially produced suppression of P. berghei infection by 67.75%, 73.46%, and 78.99%, respectively, while 84.64% of the untreated group (1% DMSO) had suppression from chloroquine. The curative test significantly decreased the levels of parasitaemia and death in the treated groups. Furthermore, after B. micrantha extract was given to infected mice, a noteworthy increase in total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was observed. On the other hand, hepatic catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) productions were considerably greater than that of the healthy control. Mice had considerably lower levels of nonenzymatic antioxidant markers such as glutathione, NO, and MDA showing that the liver was protected. Conclusion. The infected groups responded favorably to the ethanol extract of B. micrantha. This result justifies investigation for its use in Cameroon.

Background. Natural medicinal products are commonly used as a remedy against malaria infections in African populations and have become a major source of information for the screening of new and more effective antiplasmodial molecules. Therefore, in vitro studies are needed to validate the efficacy of these medicinal products and to explore the potential effects of such drugs on the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum. The current study has investigated the impact of some Beninese plant extracts with antiplasmodial activity on the genetic diversity of P. falciparum. Method. Five (5) ethanolic plant extracts (Dissotis rotundifolia, Ehretia cymosa Thonn, Hibiscus surattensis L., Cola millenii K. Shum, and Costus afer Ker Gawl) and a compound extracted from Ehretia cymosa Thonn (encoded CpE2) were tested against asexual stage parasites of a culture-adapted strain of P. falciparum. Subsequently, the P. falciparum Msp1 and Msp2 markers were genotyped, and the number of allelic variants and the multiplicity of infection (MOI) were compared between drug-exposed and unexposed parasites. Results. All plant extracts have shown inhibitory activity against asexual P. falciparum and selected new allelic variants of the Msp1 and Msp2 genes compared to unexposed parasites. The newly selected allelic variants were K1_100bp and RO33_300bp of the Msp1 gene and FC27_150bp, FC27_300bp, FC27_400bp, and FC27_600bp of the Msp2 gene. However, there was no significant difference in MOI between drug-exposed and unexposed parasites. Conclusion. Our study highlights a source for the selection of new Msp1 and Msp2 alleles after exposure to antimalarial drugs. These findings pave the way for further studies investigating the true roles of these newly selected alleles in P. falciparum.

Ecoepidemiology is an emerging field that attempts to explain how biotic, environmental, and even social factors influence the dynamics of infectious diseases. Particularly in vector-borne diseases, the study under this approach offers us an overview of the pathogens, vectors, and hosts that coexist in a given region and their ecological determinants. As a result of this, risk predictions can be established in a changing environment and how it may impact human populations. This paper is aimed at evaluating some ecoepidemiological characteristics of Chagas disease in a natural reserve in southeastern Mexico that borders human settlements. We carry out a cross-sectional study in 2022 where we search insects manually and with light traps. We set traps for small mammals and bats and conducted interviews with the inhabitants living around the study site. We identified the presence of Triatoma dimidiata and T. huehuetenanguensis species with a percentage of TcI T. cruzi infection of 68.4% (95% CI: 66.9-69.9). Temperature and humidity were not determining factors for the probability of insect capture. Of the 108 wild mammals (Chiroptera, Rodentia, and Didelphimorphia), none was infected with T. cruzi. Knowledge about Chagas disease in nearby inhabitants is poor, and some characteristics were found on the periphery of dwellings that could offer a refuge for insect vectors. With this information, surveillance strategies can be generated in the study area that reduce the risk of transmission of T. cruzi parasite to humans, and it is expected to motivate the use of this field in future research.