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The global spread of parasites is unquestionably linked with human activities. Migration in all its different forms played a major role in the introduction of parasites into new areas. In ancient times, mass migrations were the main causes for the spread of parasites while in the recent past and present, emigration, immigration, displacement, external and internal migration, and labor migration were the reasons for the dispersal of parasites. With the advent of seagoing ships, long-distance trading became another important mode of spreading parasites. This review summarizes the spread of parasites using notable examples. In addition, the different hypotheses explaining the arrival of Plasmodium vivax and soil-transmitted helminths in pre-Columbian America are also discussed.

Objective: Parasitic diseases have created numerous health and economic problems in developing and developed countries. One of the most prevalent ways of transmitting diseases is by consuming raw vegetables that are contaminated with parasites. With respect to the importance of healthy vegetable consumption, an awareness of vegetable status helps prevent infection. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the level of parasitic contamination of vegetables consumed in Tehran., Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on vegetable samples spread in Tehran from October 2017 to September 2018. The samples included 240 vegetables selected from 10 types of vegetable including leek, basil, mint, spring onion, radish, parsley, lettuce, cress, tarragon and coriander. Each sample was examined after passing through washing and centrifuging. Parasitic agents such as unicellular, egg and larva of the worms were studied. The data were analysed using SPSS software., Conclusion: Parasitic infection was observed in 62 samples (25.8%). The highest and lowest rates of contamination were observed in coriander and lettuce, respectively. Rhabditoid larva (12.5%; 15 cases) and Physaloptera egg (1.6%; 2 cases) were the most and least observed parasites, respectively. Other parasites such as Entamoeba, Giardia, Blastocystis, Hymenolepis, Ascaris and the egg and larva of hookworms were also observed. Despite the relative improvement of social, agricultural, economic and health conditions in Tehran, the prevalence of parasitic infections still persists. Factors such as developing modern waste collection methods, improving urban sewage systems, preventing domestic animal traffic on pastures and promoting the knowledge of different classes of people could reduce the prevalence of these types of diseases.

Some recent studies suggest ongoing transmission of parasitic diseases in the American South; however, surveys in Mississippi children are lacking. We enrolled 166 children (median age 8 years, range 4-13 years) from the Mississippi Delta region and carried out multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Necator americanus , Ascaris lumbricoides , and Strongyloides stercoralis on their stool samples. Dried blood spots were obtained for multiplex serology antibody detection. Of 166 children, all reported having flushable toilets, 11% had soil exposure, and 34% had a pet dog or cat. None had prior diagnosis or treatment of parasitic disease. Multi-parallel real-time PCRs were negative on the 89 stool DNA extracts available for testing. Dried blood spot testing of all 166 children determined the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to Toxocara spp . (3.6%), Cryptosporidium (2.4%), S. stercoralis , Fasciola hepatica , and Giardia duodenalis (all 0%). In conclusion, parasitic infections and exposure were scarce in this population. Larger studies of at-risk populations are needed.

Parasitic diseases are a serious public health problem affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. African trypanosomiasis, American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, malaria and toxoplasmosis are the main parasitic infections caused by protozoan parasites with over one million deaths each year. Due to old medications and drug resistance worldwide, there is an urgent need for new antiparasitic drugs. 1,3,4-Thiadiazoles have been widely studied for medical applications. The chemical, physical and pharmacokinetic properties recommend 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring as a target in drug development. Many scientific papers report the antiparasitic potential of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. This review presents synthetic 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles exhibiting antitrypanosomal, antimalarial and antitoxoplasmal activities. Although there are insufficient results to state the quality of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles as a new class of antiparasitic agents, many reported derivatives can be considered as lead compounds for drug synthesis and a promise for the future treatment of parasitosis and provide a valid strategy for the development of potent antiparasitic drugs.

This study analyses the spatio-temporal trend of the prevalence of the four most prevalent parasitic diseases in Iran over two periods, 2007 to 2012 and 2013 to 2018, indicating high-risk and low-risk areas. Out of 19 126 articles, we selected 220 articles for data extraction and calculated the pooled prevalence for cutaneous leishmaniasis, human toxoplasmosis, giardiasis and blastocystosis for all 31 provinces in the country. Anselin local Moran's I was used to identify clusters and outliers in the prevalence rates. The mean prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients was found 35.12 per 100 000 in 2007 to 2012 but fell to 19.12 per 100 000 in the 2013 to 2018 period. The mean prevalence of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis was 2.36% and 32.5%, respectively, in 2007 to 2012, which changed to 2.28% and 31.14% in 2013 to 2018. The total prevalence of giardiasis declined from 9.8% in 2007 to 2012 to 4.8% in 2013 to 2018, while the mean prevalence of blastocystosis declined from 8.9% in 2007 to 2012 to 6.76% in the 2013 to 2018 period. There was only one high-high cluster in 2007 to 2012 and that was due to giardiasis, while there were two in 2013 to 2018, one for blastocystosis and one for chronic toxoplasmosis. The total prevalence of blastocystosis, giardiasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran has continually declined since 2007. In contrast, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Iranian women has not been changed. Iran's Midwest has more parasitic infections compared to the Mideast, which may be explained by the existence of vast deserts and consequently dry and hot climate in the latter part of the country., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Data on morbidity and mortality are essential in assessing disease burden, monitoring and evaluation of health policies. The aim of this study is to describe the causes of morbidity and mortality in the wards of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH)., Methods: The study took a retrospective approach evaluating causes of morbidity and mortality from 2012-2017. Causes of death were documented based on International Classification of Disease 10 (ICD-10). Data were retrieved from health records department, UCTH., Results: Overall, 2,198 deaths were recorded out of the 49,287 admissions during the study period giving a mortality rate of 4.5% comprising 1,152 (52.4%) males and 1,046 (47.6%) females. A greater number of males were admitted via accident and emergency. Age group 15-45 years had the highest number of admissions (57.9%) and deaths (37.7%), while age group >65 years recorded the highest number of deaths per admission (9.7% mortality rate). The broad leading causes of death were infectious and parasitic disease and diseases of the circulatory system (cardiovascular diseases) accounting for 22.7% and 15.8% of all deaths, respectively. However, diseases of the circulatory system recorded the highest number of deaths per admission (13.7% mortality rate). Overall, infectious diseases were the chief cause of mortality in adults while conditions originating from perinatal period were the major cause of death in children. Septicemia (6.0%), stroke (4.2%), liver diseases (4.1%), tuberculosis (3.7%), diabetes (3.6%) and HIV/AIDS (3.4%) were the specific leading cases of deaths. Sepsis, chronic diseases of the tonsil and adenoids and malaria were the specific leading causes of death in children, while sepsis, stroke and liver diseases were the leading cause of death in adults., Conclusion: Most causes of deaths in this study are preventable. This study revealed double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Understanding the origin of sex differences in lifespan and aging patterns remains a salient challenge in both biogerontology and evolutionary biology. Different factors have been studied but the potential influence of pathogens has never been investigated. Sex differences, especially in hormones and resource allocation, generate a differential response to pathogens and thereby shape sex differences in lifespan or aging. We provide an integrative framework linking host pathogenic environment with both sex-specific selections on immune performance and mortality trajectories. We propose future directions to fill existing knowledge gaps about mechanisms that link sex differences, not only to exposition and sensitivity to pathogens, but also to mortality patterns, whilst emphasizing the urgent need to consider the role of sex in medicine., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, have surpassed 5 million cases globally. Current models suggest that low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will have a similar incidence but substantially lower mortality rate than high-income countries. However, malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are prevalent in LMICs, and coinfections are likely. Both malaria and parasitic NTDs can alter immunologic responses to other infectious agents. Malaria can induce a cytokine storm and pro-coagulant state similar to that seen in severe COVID-19. Consequently, coinfections with malaria parasites and SARS-CoV-2 could result in substantially worse outcomes than mono-infections with either pathogen, and could shift the age pattern of severe COVID-19 to younger age-groups. Enhancing surveillance platforms could provide signals that indicate whether malaria, NTDs, and COVID-19 are syndemics (synergistic epidemics). Based on the prevalence of malaria and NTDs in specific localities, efforts to characterize COVID-19 in LMICs could be expanded by adding testing for malaria and NTDs. Such additional testing would allow the determination of the rates of coinfection and comparison of severity of outcomes by infection status, greatly improving the understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in LMICs and potentially helping to mitigate its impact.

Background: Parasitic infections remain widespread in developing countries and constitute a major public health problem in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It is prevalent among children under 5 years and pregnant women; however, studies among the later high risk group is limited in the northern part of Ghana. Here, we evaluated the prevalence and associated factors of parasitic infections among pregnant women at first antenatal care visit in northern Ghana., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Upper East Region-Ghana. A total of 334 consecutive consenting pregnant women were included. Questionnaires were administered to obtain socio-demographic data. Venous blood, stool and urine samples were collected for parasite identification using microscopy. Factors associated with parasitic infections were evaluated using regression models. Statistical analysis was performed using R., Results: Parasitic infections identified were giardiasis (30.5%), P. falciparum malaria (21.6%) and schistosomiasis (0.6%). Polyparasitic infection was identified in 6.6% of the population. Increasing age [Age of 20-29 years: AOR = 0.16, 95% CI (0.06-0.38); Age of 30-39 years: AOR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.08-0.50); Age >39 years: AOR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.11-0.83)] was associated with lower odds whiles presence of domestic animals [AOR = 1.85, 95% CI (1.01-3.39)], being in the second trimester of pregnancy [AOR = 2.21, 95% CI (1.17-4.19)], having no formal education [AOR = 3.29, 95% CI (1.47-7.35)] and basic education as the highest educational level [AOR = 6.03, 95% CI (2.46-10.81)] were independent predictors of increased odds of giardiasis. Similarly, having no formal education [AOR = 2.88, 95% CI (1.21-8.79)] was independently associated with higher odds of P. falciparum malaria. The use of insecticide treated net (ITN) [AOR = 0.43, 95% CI (0.21-0.89)] and mosquito repellent [AOR = 0.09, 95% CI (0.04-0.21)] were independent predictors of lower odds of P. falciparum malaria., Conclusion: Giardiasis and P. falciparum malaria are common among pregnant women in northern Ghana. The major associated factors of giardiasis are lack of or low level of formal education, the presence of domestic animals and being in the second trimester of pregnancy. Increasing age confers protection against giardiasis. Likewise, lack of formal education is an associated factor for P. falciparum malaria among pregnant women in northern Ghana. The use of ITN and mosquito repellents reduce the risk of P. falciparum malaria. Given the possible role of parasitic infections in adverse pregnancy outcomes, our findings highlight the need for regular screening and treatment of infected women in the northern parts of Ghana. Public health education and improving socio-economic status could help reduce the risk of parasitic infections among pregnant women in the region., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Skin disorders are frequent in travellers, but data vary between different studies. The objectives of the current study were to describe imported dermatoses in the Bordeaux GeoSentinel prospective database between August 2015 and March 2018. During the study period, 1025 travellers were seen in the clinic, 201 of them with dermatoses. Patients with skin disorders were more likely to be aged > 60 years (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.22-2.89), to be tourists (OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.03-4.55) and to have travelled to South America (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.29-3.67), and less likely to have sought pretravel advice (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.91). Skin bacterial infections (19.4%) and Zika virus infections (18.4%) were the most common dermatoses. Dengue fever and bacterial skin infections were the leading causes of hospitalization. The contribution of tropical diseases to imported dermatoses remains important. Lack of pretravel advice puts tourists at risk of significant diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus and bacterial infections., (© 2020 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists.)

Progress has been made in the control or elimination of tropical diseases, with a significant reduction of incidence. However, there is a risk of re-emergence if the factors fueling transmission are not dealt with. Although it is essential to understand these underlying factors for each disease, asymptomatic carriers are a common element that may promote resurgence; their impact in terms of proportion in the population and role in transmission needs to be determined. In this paper, we review the current evidence on whether or not to treat asymptomatic carriers given the relevance of their role in the transmission of a specific disease, the efficacy and toxicity of existing drugs, the Public Health interest, and the benefit at an individual level, for example, in Chagas disease, to prevent irreversible organ damage. In the absence of other control tools such as vaccines, there is a need for safer drugs with good risk/benefit profiles in order to change the paradigm so that it addresses the complete infectious process beyond manifest disease to include treatment of non-symptomatic infected persons.

Zoonotic and vector-borne parasites are important preventable risk factors for epilepsy. Three parasitic infections - cerebral malaria, Taenia solium cysticercosis and onchocerciasis - have an established association with epilepsy. Parasitoses are widely prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, which are home to 80% of the people with epilepsy in the world. Once a parasitic infection has taken hold in the brain, therapeutic measures do not seem to influence the development of epilepsy in the long term. Consequently, strategies to control, eliminate and eradicate parasites represent the most feasible way to reduce the epilepsy burden at present. The elucidation of immune mechanisms underpinning the parasitic infections, some of which are parasite-specific, opens up new therapeutic possibilities. In this Review, we explore the pathophysiological basis of the link between parasitic infections and epilepsy, and we consider preventive and therapeutic approaches to reduce the burden of epilepsy attributable to parasitic disorders. We conclude that a concerted approach involving medical, veterinary, parasitological and ecological experts, backed by robust political support and sustainable funding, is the key to reducing this burden.

Routine microbiological monitoring of rodent colonies in animal facilities is essential to evaluate the health status of the animals used in research studies. In the present study, animals were examined for the presence of selected microbial infections. In order to determine the contamination rates of mice and rats in Argentina, animals from 102 conventional facilities were monitored from 2012 to 2016. The most frequent bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus spp. The common parasites identified were Syphacia spp. and Tritrichomonas spp. Serological assays demonstrated the highest prevalence for Mouse hepatitis virus in mice and Sialodacryoadenitis virus in rats. The results indicate that there is a high incidence of infections, so it is suggested that an efficient management system and effective sanitary barriers should be implemented in conventional facilities in Argentina in order to improve sanitary standards., (Copyright © 2019 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

To estimate the prevalence of, and identify factors associated with intestinal parasites (IPs) in expatriate workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All expatriate workers (N = 115) in a conveniently selected workplace in the industrial district of Al Ain city were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Consenting workers completed an interviewer-led questionnaire and self-collected stool samples. Stool samples were microscopically and molecularly screened for the presence of IPs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Overall, 102 (88.7%) workers participated in the survey and 84.3% provided stool samples. Over three-quarters (79.4%) of workers were living in labour accommodation, 76.0% were sharing a bedroom with ≥ 4 workers, 80.2% were sharing a toilet with > 5 other people. Fifteen species of IPs were identified. Microscopically, 17.4% of the screened stool samples were positive for at least one parasite. Entamoeba species was the most common (8.1%) followed by Cryptosporidium species (3.5%). Thirty-six (41.8%) of the tested stool samples were positive for at least one parasite by molecular testing. The most prevalent parasite was Cryptosporidium species (16.3%) followed by Enterobius vermicularis (14.0%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (5.8%). Overall, 47.8% of the tested expatriate workers were positive for at least one IP, microscopically or molecularly. Educational attainment was negatively associated with being positive for at least one IP. IPs were very common amongst expatriate workers in Al Ain city. Efficacious and cost-effective public health interventions are required to reduce the burden of, and prevent the onward transmission of IPs in the UAE.

We used odds ratios and a hurdle model to analyze parasite co-infections over 25 years on >20,000 young-of-the year of endangered Shortnose and Lost River Suckers. Host ecologies differed as did parasite infections. Shortnose Suckers were more likely to be caught inshore and 3-5 times more likely to have Bolbophorus spp. and Contracaecum sp. infections, and Lost River Suckers were more likely to be caught offshore and approximately three times more likely to have Lernaea cyprinacea infections. An observed peak shift seems likely to be due to a lower host size limit for Bolbophorus spp. (13.6 mm) compared with L. cyprinacea (23.4 mm). The large data set allowed us to generate strong hypotheses: (i) that a major marsh restoration project had unintended consequences that resulted in an increase in infections; (ii) that co-infection with Bolbophorus spp. increased the odds of infection by L. cyprinacea and Contracaecum sp.; (iii) that significant declines in the odds of infection over approximately 25 days were due to parasite-induced host mortality; (iv) that the fish's small size relative to L. cyprinacea and Contracaecum sp. might be directly lethal; (v) that the absence of L. cyprinacea infections in the early 1990s was associated with good year-class production of the suckers; and (vi) that parasites might increase the odds of vagrancy from the nursery ground., (Copyright © 2020 Australian Society for Parasitology. All rights reserved.)

The impact of HIV infection on the burden of gastrointestinal pathogens in Myanmar is poorly defined. Stools of 103 HIV-infected and 105 HIV-uninfected adult outpatients at a tertiary referral hospital in Yangon were examined microscopically. Stool antigen tests for Helicobacter pylori infection were positive in 63/103 (61%) HIV-infected and 61/105 (58%) HIV-uninfected patients ( P = 0.65). Soil-transmitted helminth infections were much less common, occurring in 9/103 (9%) HIV-infected and 13/103 (13%) HIV-uninfected patients ( P = 0.50). One HIV-uninfected patient had Giardia duodenalis , but there were no cases of Strongyloides stercoralis , Entamoeba histolytica , Capillaria philippinensis , Isospora , Cyclospora , or Schistosoma infection in the entire cohort. Despite the high prevalence of H. pylori , only 1/208 (0.5%) had ever received eradication, compared with 159/208 (76%) who had ever been dewormed. Helicobacter pylori appears to be an underappreciated pathogen in Myanmar. Its strong association with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease necessitates a more aggressive approach to its management.

Infectious myositis is a rare condition that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. Muscle pain or weakness are symptoms shared by all type of myositis. Diagnosis is made on clinical presentation: fever and poor general state is found in bacterial myositis, diffuse muscle pain with flu-like symptoms in viral causes, eosinophilia and a tropical travel history can be related to parasitic etiology, and immunocompromising condition suggests fungal infection. Rhabdomyolysis, leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein are common. Imaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) can be useful to detect which muscle is affected. The causative organism can be identified on blood cultures, skeletal muscle biopsy, serology or any other pathogen specific test. Treatment depends on the causative organism. Open surgical or imaging-guided drainage is usually necessary in bacterial myositis., (Copyright © 2020 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Schistosomiasis and infection by soil-transmitted helminths are some of the world's most prevalent neglected tropical diseases. Infection by more than one parasite (co-infection) is common and can contribute to clinical morbidity in children. Geostatistical analyses of parasite infection data are key for developing mass drug administration strategies, yet most methods ignore co-infections when estimating risk. Infection status for multiple parasites can act as a useful proxy for data-poor individual-level or environmental risk factors while avoiding regression dilution bias. Conditional random fields (CRF) is a multivariate graphical network method that opens new doors in parasite risk mapping by (i) predicting co-infections with high accuracy; (ii) isolating associations among parasites; and (iii) quantifying how these associations change across landscapes., Methods: We built a spatial CRF to estimate infection risks for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) and Schistosoma mansoni using data from a national survey of Rwandan schoolchildren. We used an ensemble learning approach to generate spatial predictions by simulating from the CRF's posterior distribution with a multivariate boosted regression tree that captured non-linear relationships between predictors and covariance in infection risks. This CRF ensemble was compared against single parasite gradient boosted machines to assess each model's performance and prediction uncertainty., Results: Parasite co-infections were common, with 19.57% of children infected with at least two parasites. The CRF ensemble achieved higher predictive power than single-parasite models by improving estimates of co-infection prevalence at the individual level and classifying schools into World Health Organization treatment categories with greater accuracy. The CRF uncovered important environmental and demographic predictors of parasite infection probabilities. Yet even after capturing demographic and environmental risk factors, the presences or absences of other parasites were strong predictors of individual-level infection risk. Spatial predictions delineated high-risk regions in need of anthelminthic treatment interventions, including areas with higher than expected co-infection prevalence., Conclusions: Monitoring studies routinely screen for multiple parasites, yet statistical models generally ignore this multivariate data when assessing risk factors and designing treatment guidelines. Multivariate approaches can be instrumental in the global effort to reduce and eventually eliminate neglected helminth infections in developing countries.

Objective: To analyze the role that infections play on the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) outcome., Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients with AAV diagnosed in a tertiary center. Clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment, relapses, major infections, and outcome were evaluated., Results: Included were 132 patients [51 microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), 52 granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 29 eosinophilic GPA (EGPA)] with a mean followup of 140 (96-228) months. ANCA were positive in 85% of cases. A total of 300 major infections, mainly bacterial (85%), occurred in 60% patients during the followup. Lower respiratory tract (64%) and urinary tract infections (11%) were the most frequent, followed by bacteremia (10%). A total of 7.3% opportunistic infections were observed, most due to systemic mycosis. Up to 46% of all opportunistic infections took place in the first year of diagnosis, and 55% of them under cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment. Bacterial infections were associated with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (version 3) > 15 at the disease onset, a total cumulative CYC dose > 8.65 g, dialysis, and development of leukopenia during the followup. Leukopenia was the only factor independently related to opportunistic infections. Forty-four patients died, half from infection. Patients who had major infections had an increased mortality from any cause., Conclusion: Our results confirm that major infections are the main cause of death in patients with AAV.

Parasitic infections are a public health problem that affects all population levels in developing countries including Palestine. The current study describes the epidemiology of parasitic infections in Palestine from 2008 to 2017. Twelve prominent parasitic infections were reported: leishmaniasis (both cutaneous and visceral), malaria, hydatid disease caused by hydatid cysts, toxoplasmosis, ascariasis, oxyuriasis, strongyloidiasis, taeniasis caused by Taenia saginata , amebiasis, giardiasis, and scabies. A total of 137,106 cases were reported; among them, 92,494 (67%) in the Gaza Strip and 44,612 (33%) in the West Bank. This study provides baseline information for better understanding the status of parasitic infections in Palestine and compares their epidemiology between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Appropriate control measures and health education directed to the public about preventive measures should be considered to raise awareness about parasitic infections to lower their incidences and burden in Palestine.

Introduction : Recent increases in population movements have created novel health challenges in many areas of the World, and health policies have been adapted accordingly in several countries. However, screening guidelines for infectious diseases are not standardized and generally do not include comprehensive screening for parasitic infections. Areas covered : Malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, amebiasis, filariases, strongyloidiasis, and schistosomiasis are reviewed, focusing on the challenges posed for their diagnosis and management in vulnerable populations such as migrants. The methodology included literature searches in public databases such as PubMed.gov and Google Scholar and search of the US National Library of Medicine online database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies ( ClinicalTrials.gov ) until November 2019. Expert opinion : Parasitic infections which may remain asymptomatic for prolonged periods, leading to chronic infection and complications, and/or may be transmitted in non-endemic areas are ideal candidates for screening. Proposed strategies to improve diagnosis in vulnerable groups such as migrants include facilitating access to healthcare in a multi-dimensional manner considering location, individual characteristics, and timing. Limitations and availability of specific diagnostic techniques should be addressed and focus on drug and vaccine development for these neglected infections should be prioritized through collaborative initiatives with public disclosure of results.

China has achieved a great success in control and elimination of key parasitic diseases. In 2007, the elimination of lymphatic filariasis was verified by WHO. The schistosomiasis incidence and snail-distributed areas have reduced to the lowest level in the history. The transmission and disease burden of echinococcosis have been contained largely, and the populations infected with soil-transmitted trematode and food-borne parasites have also shown a significantly declining trend. Because of rapid globalization and climate changes, however, many new challenges have arisen. In his paper, the 2020-2030 roadmaps towards the control and elimination of these key parasitic diseases are described. Moreover, China is actively implementing its global health strategy, and will be more and more engaged into global health affairs, in which a series of China-Africa health cooperation projects have been in planning with a wish of making a greater contribution to the SDGs., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The National Parasitic Resource Center (NPRC) was created in 2004. It is a first-level platform under the Basic Condition Platform Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. The resource centre involves 21 depository institutions in 15 regions of the country, including human parasite and vector depository, animal parasite depository, plant nematode characteristic specimen library, medical insect characteristic specimen library, trematode model specimen library, parasite-vector/snail model specimen library, etc. After nearly 15 years of operation, the resource centre has been built into a physical library with a database of 11 phyla, 23 classes, 1115 species and 117,814 pieces of parasitic germplasm resources, and three live collection bases of parasitic germplasm resources. A variety of new parasite-related immunological and molecular biological detection and identification technologies produced by the resource centre are widely used in the fields of public health responses, risk assessments on food safety, and animal or plant quarantine. The NPRC is the largest and top level resource centre on parasitology in China, and it is a leading technology platform for collecting and identifying parasitic resources., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they do not have competing interests., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.)

Parasitic zoonosis (PZs) have a cosmopolitan significant impact on public health but they are often omitted in discussions, especially in developing countries. Zoonotic parasites include protozoa, cestodes, nematodes, trematodes and arthropods, and notably in African and Arabian countries have a high prevalence among livestock and man. Through this comprehensive review, we summarize the extant published research of the most significant zoonotic parasites present in some countries of Arabic world and we identify the epidemiology and risk factors for significant infections and suggest some effective control measures. This review might help the researches, governments about the zoonotic impact of these neglected infections for future considerations and application for real control programs.

Accurate and cost-effective identification of areas where co-endemic infections occur would enable public health managers to identify opportunities for implementation of integrated control programs. Dried blood spots collected during cross-sectional lymphatic filariasis surveys in coastal Kenya were used for exploratory integrated detection of IgG antibodies against antigens from several parasitic infections ( Wuchereria bancrofti , Schistosoma mansoni , Plasmodium spp., Ascaris lumbricoides , and Strongyloides stercoralis ) as well as for detection of responses to immunizing agents used against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) (measles, diphtheria, and tetanus) using a multiplex bead assay (MBA) platform. High heterogeneity was observed in antibody responses by pathogen and antigen across the sentinel sites. Antibody seroprevalence against filarial antigens were generally higher in Ndau Island ( P < 0.0001), which also had the highest prevalence of filarial antigenemia compared with other communities. Antibody responses to the Plasmodium species antigens circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) 19 were higher in Kilifi and Kwale counties, with Jaribuni community showing higher overall mean seroprevalence ( P < 0.0001). Kimorigo community in Taita-Taveta County was the only area where antibody responses against S. mansoni Sm25 recombinant antigen were detected. Seroprevalence rates to Strongyloides antigen NIE ranged between 3% and 26%, and there was high heterogeneity in immune responses against an Ascaris antigen among the study communities. Differences were observed between communities in terms of seroprevalence to VPDs. Seroprotection to tetanus was generally lower in Kwale County than in other counties. This study has demonstrated that MBA holds promise for rapid integrated monitoring of trends of infections of public health importance in endemic areas.

Parasitic diseases have been widely epidemic in China with a long history. Great endeavours made in past 70 years led to significant decrease in morbidity and mortablity caused by several major parasitic diseases, while challenges existed to eliminate parasitic diseases. Surveillance-response system has play a crucial role in identifying public health problems, ascertaining the distribution and epidemic dynamics, discovering outbreaks and epidemic anomalies, evaluating the effects of on-site intervention activities and identifying risk factors. In this article, we reviewed the progress of the surveillance system for parasitic diseases, analysed the role of NIPD in the construction and application of surveillance-response system of parasitic diseases through elaborating the surveillance activities and typical surveillance-response events led by NIPD. Suggestion and comments for improve the surveillance-response system were put forward for further control or elimination of parasitic diseases., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The analysis of epidemiological data has played an important role for the academic research carried out by the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China CDC, since its foundation in 1950s. Those researches, e.g., the temporal-spatial patterns of disease transmission and the identification of risk factors, have contributed significantly to the national parasitic disease control and elimination programmes in China. With the development and application of epidemiological data analysis in the last decade, all research results improve our understanding of parasitic diseases epidemiology and related health issues through the application platform of epidemiological big data and analytical tools. In particular, implementation research on analytical predictions on disease outbreak or epidemic risks have provided references to the scientific guidance on effective preventions and interventions in the parasitic disease elimination in China, such as fliariasis, malaria and schistosomiasis. This review has reflected the function of data accumulation and application of temporospatial tools in parasitic diseases control, and the ways of the NIPD's sustained contributions to the disease control programmes in China., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.)

Objective: This article describes the situation analysis of endemic and emerging zoonoses, and includes prevention and control of zoonoses in Oman. It also suggests possible recommendations toward elimination and risk reduction of emerging zoonoses. Methods: Epidemiologic information has been drawn from official to assess the situation. There has been significant progress in reducing the risk of brucellosis, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Rabies, West Nile fever, Q fever, and cystic hydatid disease have been confined to wildlife or livestock. Results: There is an increasing threat of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses in Oman due to globalization of travel and trade, development activities, and impact of climate change and vector bionomics. Prevention, control, and subsequent elimination of zoonoses on a sustainable basis shall not be possible without intersectoral collaboration between the human and animal health sectors. There are challenges for establishing such strong collaboration and coordination mechanisms in Oman. Institutional and cultural barriers, data and resource sharing, and national capability for rapid and effective investigation of zoonotic infections and emerging zoonoses in humans and animal reservoirs are among others. Conclusions: In the light of achievements made on the prevention and control of zoonoses in Oman during the past decades, priority zoonoses should be identified for elimination, and continuous efforts should be made to further strengthen a holistic multidisciplinary and multisectorial approach for controlling zoonoses at source. Pivotal interventions would include urgent adoption of "One Health" strategic approach as well as establishment of a robust, integrated surveillance system with a strong laboratory investigation capacity to eliminate priority zoonoses and minimize the risk of entry, establishment, and spread of emerging zoonoses in Oman.

As the only specialized institution for research and control of parasitic diseases at the national level in China for almost 70 years, the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases (NIPD) at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) has been instrumental in supporting the remarkable progress from high prevalence to transmission interruption or low endemicity of several diseases, lymphatic filariasis, malaria and schistosomiasis in particular. This has taken place through technical guidance, emergency response and scientific research as well as providing technical service, education, training, health promotion and international cooperation. With China's increasing involvement in international cooperation and the increased risk for (re)emerging tropical diseases in mind, the Chinese Government designated in 2017 a new Chinese Center for Tropical Disease Research to NIPD. Responding to the expanded responsibilities, the institute is scaling up its activities in several ways: from parasitic diseases to the wider area of tropical diseases; from disease control to disease elimination; from biological research to policy evidences accumulation; and from public health to global health. Based on this new vision and China's previous accomplishments in the areas mentioned, the institute is in a position to move forward with respect to global health and equitable development according to the central principles of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although they are declining worldwide, neurotropic parasitic diseases are still common in developing and emerging countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence and pooled association measures of comorbidities between mental disorders (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) and neurotropic parasitic diseases (malaria, cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and human toxocariasis) in developing and emerging countries., Methods: As the first meta-analysis on this topic, this study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (N°CRD42017056521). The Medline, Embase, Lilacs, and Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology databases were used to search for articles without any restriction in language or date. We evaluated the quality of studies independently by two investigators using the Downs and Black assessment grid and pooled estimates using the random-effects method from CMA (Comprehensive Meta Analysis) Version 3.0., Results: In total, 18 studies published between 1997 and 2016 met our inclusion criteria. We found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression in people suffering from Chagas disease and/or neurocysticercosis was 44.9% (95% CI, 34.4-55.9). In 16 pooled studies that included 1782 people with mental disorders and 1776 controls, toxoplasmosis and/or toxocariasis were associated with increased risk of schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorders (odds ratio = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.7-3.2). Finally, toxocariasis and/or toxoplasmosis were associated with an increased risk of the onset of schizophrenia (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7-3.4)., Conclusion: Our pooled estimates show that the associations between diseases studied are relatively high in developing and emerging countries. This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that toxoplasmosis could be the cause of schizophrenia. These findings could prove useful to researchers who want to further explore and understand the associations studied.

China was once a country plagued by parasitic diseases. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, nearly 80% of the population suffered from parasitic diseases because of poverty and poor sanitary conditions. After nearly 70 years of development, China has made remarkable achievements in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases, and the prevalence of parasitic diseases has been greatly reduced. In addition to organizational leadership from the government and various preventive measures, drug treatment and drug research & development are important and irreplaceable links in prevention and control work. Since the 1950s, China has begun to introduce, produce and imitate antiparasitic drugs from abroad, such as santonin, benzimidazole, and praziquantel. Chinese scientists have also contributed to the optimization of production techniques, improvements in drug formulation, the application in the clinic and the mechanisms of actions of generic drugs. At the same time, China has independently developed tribendimidine (TrBD, a broad spectrum anthelminthic), and its anthelminthic spectrum has been comprehensively studied. It is active against almost 20 parasites, is especially superior to benzimidazoles against Necator americanus, and surpasses the effectiveness of praziquantel against Clonorchis sinensis. In the treatment of tapeworm disease, the traditional Chinese medicines pumpkin seeds and betel nuts have good curative effects for taeniasis. Chinese scientists have explored the action modes and clinical administration methods of pumpkin seeds and betel nuts, which is still the main clinical regimen for the disease. This paper reviews the history and progress of the study of anthelmintics in intestinal helminth infections since the founding of the People's Republic of China and aiming to support clinicians and drug researchers in China and other countries., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In South Korea, Health Insurance Review and Assessment claims data contain comprehensive information on healthcare services for almost the entire population. The present study used claims data on parasitic diseases from 2011 to 2018, and associated medical expenses to investigate infection trends associated with endemic parasitic diseases in South Korea, including those not monitored by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., Methods: Basic data regarding each parasitic disease were curated from the Healthcare Bigdata Hub (http://opendata.hira.or.kr). Ten endemic parasitic diseases, three pandemic protozoan diseases, and three ectoparasitic diseases were evaluated between 2011 and 2018. Data on each parasitic disease included the number of patients of each sex, age range within 5 years, province, and total medical expenses. Heatmap and principal component analysis were performed to visualize the incidence pattern of parasitic diseases by provinces., Results: Clonorchiasis and pinworm infections decreased remarkably from 6,097 and 4,018 infections in 2011 to 3,008 and 1,988 infections in 2018, respectively. Other endemic parasitic diseases mostly declined or remained steady over the 8-year period, except for anisakiasis, which doubled from 409 in 2011 to 818 in 2018. Provinces close to North Korea had a higher frequency of claims for Plasmodium vivax infection. The highest rate of clonorchiasis was in Gyeongsangnam-do, while that of anisakiasis was in southern Korea. Jeju province had the highest number of claims for cysticercosis, anisakiasis, pinworm infection, and soil-transmitted helminth infections. The total medical expense for anisakiasis was 65 million Korean won (57,000 US$) in 2011, rising to 237 million Korean won (206,000 US$) in 2018. The medical expense for trichomoniasis was 6,063 million won and for scabies was 1,669 million won in 2018. Since the claims data include only data reported by healthcare providers, some discrepancies might have occurred., Conclusion: Our findings provide the basis for a health policy to reduce further infections and medical expense., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The shape and number of mitochondria respond to the metabolic needs during the cell cycle of the eukaryotic cell. In the best-studied model systems of animals and fungi, the cells contain many mitochondria, each carrying its own nucleoid. The organelles, however, mostly exist as a dynamic network, which undergoes constant cycles of division and fusion. These mitochondrial dynamics are driven by intricate protein machineries centered around dynamin-related proteins (DRPs). Here, we review recent advances on the dynamics of mitochondria and mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) of parasitic protists. In contrast to animals and fungi, many parasitic protists from groups of Apicomplexa or Kinetoplastida carry only a single mitochondrion with a single nucleoid. In these groups, mitochondrial division is strictly coupled to the cell cycle, and the morphology of the organelle responds to the cell differentiation during the parasite life cycle. On the other hand, anaerobic parasitic protists such as Giardia, Entamoeba, and Trichomonas contain multiple MROs that have lost their organellar genomes. We discuss the function of DRPs, the occurrence of mitochondrial fusion, and mitophagy in the parasitic protists from the perspective of eukaryote evolution., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Diverse host communities commonly inhibit the spread of parasites at small scales. However, the generality of this effect remains controversial. Here, we present the analysis of 205 biodiversity-disease relationships on 67 parasite species to test whether biodiversity-disease relationships are generally nonlinear, moderated by spatial scale, and sensitive to underrepresentation in the literature. Our analysis of the published literature reveals that biodiversity-disease relationships are generally hump-shaped (i.e., nonlinear) and biodiversity generally inhibits disease at local scales, but this effect weakens as spatial scale increases. Spatial scale is, however, related to study design and parasite type, highlighting the need for additional multiscale research. Few studies are unrepresentative of communities at low diversity, but missing data at low diversity from field studies could result in underreporting of amplification effects. Experiments appear to underrepresent high-diversity communities, which could result in underreporting of dilution effects. Despite context dependence, biodiversity loss at local scales appears to increase disease, suggesting that at local scales, biodiversity loss could negatively impact human and wildlife populations.

Background: Eosinophilia is associated with various conditions, including allergic, infectious, and neoplastic disorders. The diagnostic differential is broad, and data on hypereosinophilia in pediatric patients are limited., Objective: The objectives of this study were to identify cases of hypereosinophilia in a tertiary pediatric medical center, determine clinical characteristics and disease associations, and estimate the incidence of hypereosinophilia in the hospital and geographic populations., Methods: A retrospective chart review included patients younger than 18 years presenting to a tertiary pediatric medical center (January 1, 2008, to May 31, 2017) with absolute eosinophil counts (AECs) greater than or equal to 1.50 thousand eosinophils/microliter (K/μL) recorded on at least 2 occasions at least 4 weeks apart (N = 176). Clinical characteristics, laboratory values, treatment course, and associated diagnoses were evaluated., Results: The most common cause of hypereosinophilia in this cohort was secondary hypereosinophilia. Atopic dermatitis, graft-versus-host disease, sickle cell disease, and parasitic infections were the most common conditions associated with hypereosinophilia. Median age at diagnosis was 4.6 (interquartile range, 1.5-10.5) years. Median peak AEC was 3.16 (2.46-4.78) K/μL. Hypereosinophilia occurred most frequently in patients aged between 6 and 11 years (24.4%) and younger than 1 year (18.2%). Patients with neoplasms and immune deficiencies had significantly higher peak AECs than did patients with overlap hypereosinophilic syndrome and atopic diseases (P < .0001)., Conclusions: Pediatric hypereosinophilia has an incidence of 54.4 per 100,000 persons per year, with children younger than 1 year and aged 6 to 11 years accounting for most affected patients. Pediatric hypereosinophilia is not uncommon and remains underrecognized, highlighting a need for clinicians to identify patients who meet criteria for hypereosinophilia and to pursue a thorough evaluation., (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Parasitic diseases have serious health, social, and economic impacts, especially in the tropical regions of the world. Diseases caused by protozoan parasites are responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity, affecting more than 500 million people worldwide. Globally, the burden of protozoan diseases is increasing and is been exacerbated because of a lack of effective medication due to the drug resistance and toxicity of current antiprotozoal agents. These limitations have prompted many researchers to search for new drugs against protozoan parasites. In this review, we have compiled the latest information (2012-2017) on the structures and pharmacological activities of newly developed organic compounds against five major protozoan diseases, giardiasis, leishmaniasis, malaria, trichomoniasis, and trypanosomiasis, with the aim of showing recent advances in the discovery of new antiprotozoal drugs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

We investigated the impact of helminths and malaria infection on Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) seropositivity, using samples and data collected from a cluster-randomised trial of intensive versus standard anthelminthic treatment. The trial was carried out in 2012 to 2016 among fishing communities on Lake Victoria islands in Uganda. Plasma samples from 2881 participants from two household surveys, the baseline (1310 participants) and the final (1571 participants) surveys were tested for KSHV IgG antibody responses to K8.1 and ORF73 recombinant proteins using ELISA. The baseline survey was carried out before the trial intervention while the final survey was carried out after three years of the trial intervention. Additionally, a subset sample of 372 participants from the final survey was tested for IgE, IgG and IgG4 antibody concentrations to S. mansoni adults worm antigen (SWA) and S. mansoni egg antigen (SEA) using ELISA. Infection by helminths (S. mansoni, N. americanus, T. trichiura and S. stercoralis) was diagnosed using real-time PCR, urine circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) and stool microscopy (Kato-Katz method) while malaria infection was diagnosed using microscopy. We analysed the relationship between helminth and malaria infections and KSHV seropositivity using regression modelling, allowing for survey design. At baseline, 56% of the participants were male while 48% of the participants were male in the final survey. The most prevalent helminth infection was S. mansoni (at baseline 52% and 34% in the final survey by microscopy, 86% by CCA and 50% by PCR in the final survey). KSHV seropositivity was 66% (baseline) and 56% (final survey) among those 1-12 years and >80% in those 13+ years in both surveys; malaria parasitaemia prevalence was 7% (baseline) and 4% (final survey). At baseline, individuals infected with S. mansoni (detected by microscopy) were more likely to be KSHV seropositive (aOR = 1.86 (1.16, 2.99) p = 0.012) and had higher anti-K8.1 antibody levels (acoefficient = 0.03 (0.01, 0.06) p = 0.02). In the final survey, S. mansoni (by microscopy, adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR = 1.43 (1.04-1.95), p = 0.028) and malaria parasitaemia (aOR = 3.49 (1.08-11.28), p = 0.038) were positively associated with KSHV seropositivity. Additionally, KSHV seropositive participants had higher S. mansoni-specific IgE and IgG antibody concentrations in plasma. Furthermore, HIV infected individuals on cART were less likely to be KSHV seropositive compared to HIV negative individuals (aOR = 0.46 (0.30, 0.71) p = 0.002). Schistosoma species skew the immune response towards Th2 and regulatory responses, which could impact on KSHV reactivation if co-infected with both organisms., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Spatial epidemiology is a new branch of epidemiology, and is a subject that mainly analyzes the geographical distribution and changes of population health or diseases and its related impact factors. Recently, spatial epidemiology has been extensively applied in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in China, and delightful results have been achieved. However, the research and application of theories and methods of spatial epidemiology are still needed to protect the people's health in China.

The parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus is one of the world's most important parasites of small ruminants that causes significant economic losses to the livestock sector. The population structure and selection in its various strains are poorly understood. No study so far compared its different populations using genome-wide data. Here, we focused on different geographic populations of H. contours from China (Tibet, TB; Hubei, HB; Inner Mongolia, IM; Sichuan, SC), UK and Australia (AS), using genome-wide population-genomic approaches, to explore genetic diversity, population structure and selection. We first performed next-generation high-throughput 2b RAD pool sequencing using Illumina technology, and identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all the strains. We identified 75,187 SNPs for TB, 82,271 for HB, 82,420 for IM, 79,803 for SC, 83,504 for AS and 78,747 for UK strain. The SNPs revealed low-nucleotide diversity (pi= 0.0092-0.0133) within each strain, and a significant differentiation level (average F st = 0.34264) among them. Chinese populations TB and SC, along with the UK strain, were more divergent populations. Chinese populations IM and HB showed affinities to the Australian strain. We then analysed signature of selection and detected 44 (UK) and 03 (AS) private selective sweeps containing 49 and 05 genes, respectively. Finally, we performed the functional annotation of selective sweeps and proposed biological significance to signature of selection. Our data suggest that 2b-RAD pool sequencing can be used to assess the signature of selection in H. contortus.

Although foodborne parasites (FBPs) are becoming recognized as important foodborne pathogens, they remain neglected compared with bacterial and viral foodborne pathogens. As drivers for infection with FBPs are variable, it is often unclear for funding bodies where research should be prioritized. Through a COST Action (Euro-FBP; FA1408), we harnessed Europe-wide expertise to address these questions, using an Expert Knowledge Elicitation approach. Eating habits, lack of food-chain control, lack of awareness from relevant agencies, globalization, and water quality were identified as major drivers for FBP infection. Prioritized research needs to be largely focused on methodological gaps, but also on surveillance concerns, impact-assessment issues, and the role of microbiota. Despite the European focus, these responses should be relevant to those concerned with FBPs globally., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The geographical distribution of tuberculosis (TB) overlaps with various parasitic infections. Uncovering the characteristics of coinfecting parasites that potentially affect the host susceptibility to TB is pertinent as it may provide input to current TB therapeutic and prophylactic measures. The present study was aimed at examining the types of parasitic infections in TB patients and healthy TB contacts (HC) in Orang Asli, Malaysian aborigines, who dwelled in the co-endemic areas. Stool and serum samples were collected from Orang Asli who fulfilled the selection criteria and provided written informed consents. Selected parasitic infections in the two study groups were determined by stool examination and commercial serum antibody immunoassays. The prevalence of parasitic infections in TB and HC participants were 100% (n = 82) and 94.6% (n = 55) respectively. The parasitic infections comprised toxocariasis, trichuriasis, amoebiasis, toxoplasmosis, hookworm infection, ascariasis, strongyloidiasis, and brugian filariasis, in decreasing order of prevalence. Overall, helminth or protozoa infection did not show any significant association with the study groups. However, when the species of the parasite was considered, individuals exposed to trichuriasis and toxoplasmosis showed significant odds reduction (odds ratio (OR) 0.338; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.166, 0.688) and odds increment (OR 2.193; 95% CI 1.051, 4.576) to have active pulmonary TB, respectively. In conclusion, trichuriasis and toxoplasmosis may have distinct negative and positive associations respectively with the increase of host susceptibility to TB.

Objective: To understand and master the infection status of key parasitic diseases in Baise City from 2006 to 2015, so as to provide evidence for the development and adjustment of the control strategy for parasitic diseases., Methods: The relevant information of the final evaluation of the key parasitic diseases in 12 counties (cities and districts) of Baise City from 2006 to 2015 was collected, and analyzed., Results: During the period of 2006-2015, a total of 20 654 person-times were investigated for parasitic diseases in Baise City and 1 147 persons were infected, with an average infection rate of 5.55%. In 2006, the infection rate was the highest (28.67%, 362/1 254), while the lowest was in 2013 (2.08%, 44/2 113). The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was the highest, and the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was the second. The infection rates of the males and females were 5.35% (631/11 795) and 5.82% (516/8 859) respectively, with no significant difference between them ( χ 2 = 2.175, P > 0.05). The highest infection rate existed in the 40-49 years group, the rural residents, the farmers and the crowd with the educational level of senior high middle school or above., Conclusions: The infection rate of parasitic diseases presents a decline trend overall in Baise City from 2006 to 2013, however it rebounded in 2014 and 2015. The next step is to strengthen the prevention and control of parasitic diseases by promoting health education, regular insect repellent, and fecundity management.

Indonesia and South Korea have become inseparable in various respects since the 2 countries established diplomatic relation in 1973. Indonesia is a tropical region that stretches across the equator, comprised of 5 main islands (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Papua) and 4 archipelagoes (Riau, Bangka Belitung, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku). As most population of Eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Papua and Nusa Tenggara & Maluku) live in poor areas, it is expected that there will be many parasites. Nevertheless, little is known about the status of parasites in Indonesia. This study examines the prevalences of malaria and lymphatic filaria, which are prevalent in Indonesia, as well as those of soil-transmitted-helminths (STH). As a result, the Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax case loads are almost equal. The current prevalence of P. vivax is uniformly low (&lt;5%) in all age groups and annual parasite incidence (API) showed decreasing tendency as 0.84 per 1,000 population in 2016. However, more than 65 million people still live in malaria epidemic regions. Lymphatic filariasis remains an important public health problem and 236 cities were classified as endemic areas in 514 cities/districts in 2017. It is difficult to ascertain the current prevalence rate of STH in Indonesia, although West Sumba and Southwest Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara reported prevalence rate of more than 20%. The study also considers the (sero) prevalences of other parasites identified in Indonesia. This report should be useful not only to parasitologists but also to travelers and people with business in Indonesia.

Background: Due to their close relationship with the environment, Alaskans are at risk for zoonotic pathogen infection. One way to assess a population's disease burden is to determine the seroprevalence of pathogens of interest. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of 11 zoonotic pathogens in people living in Alaska. Methods: In a 2007 avian influenza exposure study, we recruited persons with varying wild bird exposures. Using sera from this study, we tested for antibodies to Cryptosporidium spp., Echinococcus spp., Giardia intestinalis , Toxoplasma gondii , Trichinella spp., Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii , Francisella tularensis , California serogroup bunyaviruses, and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Results: Eight hundred eighty-seven persons had sera tested, including 454 subsistence bird hunters and family members, 160 sport bird hunters, 77 avian wildlife biologists, and 196 persons with no wild bird exposure. A subset ( n  = 481) of sera was tested for California serogroup bunyaviruses. We detected antibodies to 10/11 pathogens. Seropositivity to Cryptosporidium spp. (29%), California serotype bunyaviruses (27%), and G. intestinalis (19%) was the most common; 63% (301/481) of sera had antibodies to at least one pathogen. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, Cryptosporidium spp. seropositivity was higher in females (35.7% vs. 25.0%; p  = 0.01) and G . intestinalis seropositivity was higher in males (21.8% vs. 15.5%; p  = 0.02). Alaska Native persons were more likely than non-Native persons to be seropositive to C. burnetii (11.7% vs. 3.8%; p  = 0.005) and less likely to be seropositive to HEV (0.4% vs. 4.1%; p  = 0.01). Seropositivity to Cryptosporidium spp., C. burnetii , HEV, and Echinococcus granulosus was associated with increasing age ( p  ≤ 0.01 for all) as was seropositivity to ≥1 pathogen ( p  < 0.0001). Conclusion: Seropositivity to zoonotic pathogens is common among Alaskans with the highest to Cryptosporidium spp., California serogroup bunyaviruses, and G. intestinalis . This study provides a baseline for use in assessing seroprevalence changes over time.

This paper integrates our knowledge from traditional Chinese medical texts and archeological findings to discuss parasitic loads in early China. Many studies have documented that several different species of eukaryotic endoparasites were present in early human populations throughout China. Nevertheless, comprehensive paleoparasitological records from China are patchy, largely due to taphonomic and environmental factors. An examination of early Chinese medical texts allows us to fill in some of the gaps and counteract apparent biases in the current archeoparasitological records. By integrating the findings of paleoparasitology with historic textual sources, we show that parasites have been affecting the lives of humans in China since ancient times. We discuss the presence and prevalence of three groups of parasites in ancient China: roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Asian schistosoma (Schistosoma japonicum), and tapeworm (Taenia sp.). We also examine possible factors that favored the spread of these endoparasites among early humans. Therefore, this paper not only aims to reveal how humans have been affected by endoparasites, but also addresses how early medical knowledge developed to cope with the parasitic diseases., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)