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Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infections are a significant global health issue, affecting children predominantly in environments like schools and daycares. Traditional diagnosis using the scotch tape technique involves examining E. vermicularis eggs under a microscope. This method is time-consuming and depends heavily on the examiner's expertise. To improve this, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been used to automate the detection of pinworm eggs from microscopic images. In our study, we enhanced E. vermicularis egg detection using a CNN benchmarked against leading models. We digitized and augmented 40,000 images of E. vermicularis eggs (class 1) and artifacts (class 0) for comprehensive training, using an 80:20 training–validation and a five-fold cross-validation. The proposed CNN model showed limited initial performance but achieved 90.0% accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score after data augmentation. It also demonstrated improved stability with an ROC-AUC metric increase from 0.77 to 0.97. Despite its smaller file size, our CNN model performed comparably to larger models. Notably, the Xception model achieved 99.0% accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. These findings highlight the effectiveness of data augmentation and advanced CNN architectures in improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency for E. vermicularis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease that can cause fatal complications due to hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised patients. We used two Strongyloides stercoralis recombinant antigenic proteins, L3NieAg.01 (NIE) and IgG-immunoreactive antigen (SsIR), to develop the recombinant antigen-based immunochromatography test (ICT) kit. We constructed and compared kits using either the NIE (NIE ICT kit) or the SsIR (SsIR ICT kit) antigens and a kit using a mixture of both (NIE-SsIR ICT kit) for detection of anti-Strongyloides IgG antibody in human serum samples. Serum samples from normal healthy individuals (Group I, n = 40), proven strongyloidiasis patients (Group II, n = 100), and those with other parasitic infections (Group III, n = 154) were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity were 81.0% and 84.0% for the NIE ICT kit, 89.0% and 83.5% for the SsIR ICT kit, and 95.0% and 90.2% for the NIE-SsIR ICT kit, respectively. The NIE-SsIR ICT kit provided the best diagnostic results; it can supplement stool examination for clinical diagnosis and can be used to screen for asymptomatic S. stercoralis infection in people at risk in endemic areas. The NIE-SsIR ICT kit can also be used in large-scale sero-epidemiological investigations in endemic areas without the need for additional facilities or ancillary supplies.

Background. Amebic liver abscess (ALA) caused by Entamoeba histolytica is usually diagnosed based on its clinical symptoms, medical imaging abnormalities of the liver, and serological tests, the most common being the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For more than three decades, no investigation has evaluated the diagnostic performance of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in the serodiagnosis of ALA. Herein, we assessed the efficiencies of anti-amebic IgG and IgG subclasses for diagnosing ALA. Methods. A serological ELISA-based test was performed to assess its diagnostic performance using a total of 330 serum samples from ALA patients (nD14), healthy individuals (nD40), and patients with other diseases (nD276). Results. ELISA targeting the total IgG antibody to E. histolytica antigen exhibited 100% sensitivity 95% CI [76.8-100.0] and 97.8% specificity 95% CI [95.5-99.1], whereas the assay targeting IgG1 showed the same sensitivity (100% 95% CI [76.8-100.0]) and a slightly higher specificity (99.1% 95% CI [97.3-99.8]). The other IgG subclasses (IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) displayed a lower sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity and specificity did not significantly differ between tests measuring total IgG and IgG1 (Exact McNemar's test; p > 0.05), with a concordance of 98.2%, represented by a Cohen's kappa of 0.83 (p < 0.001), indicating almost perfect agreement. Conclusion. ELISA targeting IgG1 can provide valuable information to clinicians in differentiating ALA from other parasitic diseases, cancers, cirrhosis, and viral hepatitis. However, enzyme-conjugated anti-human total IgG is cheaper than anti-human IgG subclasses. Therefore, we suggest that total IgG-based ELISA is sufficient for the routine serodiagnosis of human ALA and possibly other clinical manifestations of invasive amebiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosoma mekongi infection is endemic in countries along the Mekong River and certain of its tributaries in the lower Mekong basin, especially in Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia. Diagnosis of schistosomiasis is crucial before treatment and epidemiological surveys before and/or after an intervention, such as a mass drug administration. A newly developed immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mekongi, based on antiparasite antibody detection in human sera, was evaluated. The schistosomiasis mekongi-ICT (Smk-ICT) strip was developed using somatic antigen from adult S. mekongi. In total, 209 serum samples were examined, including 14 from parasitologically proven schistosomiasis mekongi patients, 30 from schistosomiasis japonica patients, other parasitosis (n = 135), and healthy volunteers (n = 30) from areas not endemic for S. mekongi. Eleven schistosomiasis mekongi samples were positive according to the Smk-ICT, whereas all healthy control samples were negative. Cross-reactions with paragonimiasis heterotremus, sparganosis, trichinellosis, and taeniasis saginata samples were observed at 2.4% (4/165). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 78.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 49.2–95.3), 97.6% (95% CI 93.9–99.3), 73.3% (95% CI 44.9–92.2), 98.2% (95% CI 94.7–99.6), and 96.1% (95% CI 92.1–98.4), respectively. The Smk-ICT kit might be useful to assess the prevalence of disease before establishing transmission control and mass deworming campaigns in countries in the Mekong River subregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Gnathostoma spinigerum larva is pathogenic, causing gnathostomiasis in humans and certain animals, and is prevalent mainly in Asia. Growth and development of Gnathostoma spinigerum larvae in the cyclopoid copepod Mesocyclops aspericornis, the first intermediate host, were examined. Results When newly hatched, ensheathed second-stage larvae (L2) were ingested by M. aspericornis, they immediately appeared exsheathed in the stomach of M. aspericornis. They then penetrated the stomach wall and entered the body cavity, where they immediately metamorphosed to a stunted form with the body length/width ratio equal to the early third-stage larvae (EL3) up to 2 h after being ingested. During metamorphosis, the anterior spine-like structure of L2 transformed into unequal transparent lips. The larvae moulted into EL3 in the body cavity of the copepod at around day 5-7 post-infection. Minute cuticular striations were seen on the whole body, with prominent single-pointed spines on the anterior part of the body. The head bulb had four rows of hooklets and two lateral trilobed lips. The size of EL3 in copepods continuously increased towards day 12 and showed a negative correlation to their density per copepod (R = -0.881, P < 0.05 for body length, and R = -0.906, P < 0.05 for body width). Conclusions The results revealed for the first time that M. aspericornis, one of the most abundant freshwater copepods in Thailand, is a suitable first intermediate host for G. spinigerum. High susceptibility of M. aspericornis suggests its importance for the maintenance of the life cycle of G. spinigerum in Thailand.

Background: Soil–transmitted helminth infections constitute a public health problem in the rural areas of tropical and subtropical regions, including Thailand. We aimed to determine the prevalence of soil–transmitted helminth infections and underlying risk factors among the schoolchildren living in the rural areas of southern Thailand. Methods: A cross–sectional survey was conducted between Sep and Nov 2018in the district of Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. A total of 192 children, aged 6–12 yr were enrolled. Each child provided a single stool sample that was subjected to a suite of microscopic diagnoses for soil–transmitted helminth. A questionnaire was administered to determine risk factors of the infections. Logistic regression models were applied to investigate associations. Results: The overall prevalence of soil–transmitted helminth infections was 3.13%; Strongyloides stercoralis 2.08%; hookworm 1.04% and Trichuris trichiura 0.52%. Children who cutting fingernails short can prevent soil–transmitted helminth infections highly up to 90% (crude OR = 0.1; 95% confidence interval = 0 –0.8; P= 0.020). Conclusion: The finding of the study shows a sharp decrease in the prevalence of soil–transmitted helminth among schoolchildren in the southern Thailand in the past two decades with prevalence dropping below 5% for soil–transmitted helminth. However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis remained stable over time. These results suggest that the culture method should be used to access strongyloidias is situation in the older age group who greater contact with soil for agriculturists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]