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Background Patients with mental disorders have a high risk of intestinal parasitic infection due to poor hygiene practices. Hence, to better clarify this overlooked phenomenon, the current study is conducted to determine the global prevalence of protozoan parasite infections in patients with mental disorders and investigate the associated risk factors. Methods Several databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar) were searched for papers published until December 2022. The fixed effect meta-analysis was used to estimate the overall odds ratio (OR) and pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Totally, 131 articles (91 case-control and 40 cross-sectional studies) met the eligibility criteria. Patients with mental disorders were significantly at higher risk for protozoan parasites than healthy controls (OR: 2.059, 1.830-2.317). The highest pooled OR (2.485, 1.413-4.368) was related to patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, and the highest pooled prevalence was detected in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (0.341, 0.244-0.446), followed by bipolar and related disorders (0.321, 0.000-0.995). Toxoplasma gondii was the most prevalent protozoan parasite (0.343, 0.228-0.467) in cross-sectional studies and the highest pooled OR was related to Cyclospora cayetanensis (4.719, 1.352-16.474) followed by Cryptosporidium parvum (4.618, 2.877-7.412). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that individuals afflicted with mental disorders are significantly more susceptible to acquiring protozoan parasites in comparison to healthy individuals. Preventive interventions, regular screening, and treatment approaches for parasitic diseases should be considered for patients with mental disorders. Keywords: Protozoan parasites, Mental disorders, Prevalence, Meta-analysis, Worldwide, Author(s): Amir Abdoli[sup.1,2], Meysam Olfatifar[sup.3], Aida Vafae Eslahi[sup.4], Zeinab Moghadamizad[sup.5], Rasoul Samimi[sup.4], Mohammad Amin Habibi[sup.6,7], Amir Sam Kianimoghadam[sup.8], Milad Badri[sup.4] and Panagiotis Karanis[sup.9,10] Background Over the past few decades, protozoan [...]

Commercial harvesting often reduces densities of target species, potentially affecting transmission of parasites within the population. Rates of parasitic infection not only impact the hosts directly, but can result in wider ecosystem effects through influences on host behaviour. Commercial harvesting may therefore have important ecological consequences beyond the direct effects of removal of biomass. Clams (Austrovenus stutchburyi) are commonly infected by trematode parasites (Acanthoparyphium spp. and Curtuteria australis) and have been commercially harvested in Otago, New Zealand, since 1983. To assess the effects of harvesting on the abundance of trematodes in A. stutchburyi, the number of parasites per clam was compared in harvested and unharvested areas. The mean number of parasites per clam was 36% higher at commercially harvested sites, suggesting that harvesting enhances the local transmission of parasites. Harvesters may be able to reduce their influence on parasite infection levels in clam populations by harvesting less intensively and allowing more time between harvests for clam biomass to regenerate. L'exploitation commerciale reduit souvent la densite des especes visees, ce qui peut avoir une incidence sur la transmission de parasites au sein des populations. Les taux d'infection parasitaire n'ont pas qu'un impact direct sur les hotes, mais peuvent egalement avoir des effets ecosystemiques plus larges en influencant le comportement des hotes. L'exploitation commerciale peut donc avoir d'importantes consequences ecologiques au-dela des effets directs de la reduction de la biomasse. Les coques (Austrovenus stutchburyi) sont souvent infectees par des parasites trematodes (Acanthoparyphium spp. et Curtuteria australis) et font l'objet d'une exploitation commerciale a Otago (Nouvelle- Zelande) depuis 1983. Afin d'evaluer les effets de l'exploitation sur l'abondance de trematodes chez A. stutchburyi, les nombres de parasites par coque dans des zones exploitees et non exploitees ont ete compares. Le nombre moyen de parasites par coque etait 36 % plus eleve aux sites exploites commercialement, donnant a penser que l'exploitation accroit la transmission locale des parasites. Il pourrait etre possible pour les exploitants de reduire leur influence sur les niveaux d'infection parasitaire dans les populations de coques en exploitant ces dernieres moins intensivement et en laissant s'ecouler plus de temps entre les recoltes pour permettre la regeneration de la biomasse de coques. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Commercial harvesting reduces the population density of target species (Ludwig et al. 1993; Botsford et al. 1997), which can affect parasite transmission (Wood et al. 2010) and the intensity [...]

Our review of angiostrongyliasis in China found that the disease is emerging as a result of changes in food consumption habits and long-distance transportation of food. Enhanced understanding of angiostrongyliasis [...]

ABSTRACT Background Bilharzia is one of the major parasitic infections affecting the public health and socioeconomic circumstances in (sub) tropical areas. Its causative agents are schistosomes. Since these worms remain [...]

Byline: Arshad Hussain Malik (1,2), B. D. Saima (1), M. Y. Wani (1) Keywords: Hepatobiliary; Pancreatic ascariasis; Children management Abstract: Ascariasis is the most common parasitic infestation in endemic areas and accounts for 50--60% of pediatric admissions in the surgical emergency department. Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis accounts for about 10% of such admissions. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical features, investigations, and management of hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis. The study was conducted in the endemic areas of Kashmir in northern India over a period of 3 years. During the study period (May 2001 to April 2004), 214 children with hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis were admitted in the department. These children underwent complete clinical evaluation, investigation including ultrasound, and ERCP when required. Surgical intervention was done in patients who failed to settle with medical treatment. Ninety percent of our admissions were from rural areas and 86% of the children presented with pain in the right hypochondrium. Twenty-two percent of patients presented with cholangitis, whereas 39% of the children had mild icterus at presentation. Thirty-eight percent of the children had vomited worms during the episode of illness. Ultrasound was the diagnostic method of choice, which revealed the worms in the CBD in 80% of the patients, and in gall bladder in 16% of the children. Eight patients had worms in the main pancreatic duct while seven (4%) had multiple small liver abscesses. Serum alkaline phosphatase was raised in majority of children (80%). Twenty (9%) children were referred for ERCP. Medical treatment including endoscopic management was successful in 97% of the children. Seven (4%) children had to be operated upon due to complications of the disease. We conclude that the majority of the children with hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis respond to conservative treatment, and surgical treatment is rarely needed. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Paediatric Surgery, Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital GMC, Srinagar, Kashmir, India (2) No. 12, School Enclave, Rawal pora, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190009, India Article History: Registration Date: 19/07/2005 Accepted Date: 23/06/2005 Online Date: 19/11/2005