Serological evidence for human cystic echinococcosis in Slovenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by the larva of tapeworm <it>Echinococcus granulosus</it>. Dogs and other canids are the primary definitive hosts for this parasite. CE may develop after accidental ingestion of tapeworm eggs, excreted with the feces of these animals. In the intestine, the larvae released from the eggs are nested in the liver, lungs or other organs of livestock as intermediate hosts and humans as aberrant hosts. The aim of this study was to examine serologically whether some of the patients in Slovenia, suspected of CE by imaging findings in the liver or lungs had been infected with the larva of <it>Echinococcus granulosus</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between January 1, 2002 and the end of December 2006, 1323 patients suspected of having echinococcosis were screened serologically by indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA). For confirmation and differentiation of <it>Echinococcus </it>spp. infection, the sera of IHA-positive patients were then retested by western blot (WB).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 127 IHA-positive sera, 34 sera were confirmed by WB and considered specific for CE. Of 34 sera of CE-positive patients sera, 32 corresponded to the characteristic imaging findings of a liver cysts and 2 to those of lung cysts. The mean age of CE-positive patients was 58.3 years. No significant differences were found between the CE-positive patients in regard to their sex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the study, it was found out that CE was mostly spread in the same area of Slovenia as in the past, but its prevalence decreased from 4.8 per 10⁵inhabitants in the period 1956–1968 to 1.7 per 10⁵inhabitants in the period 2002–2006. In spite of the decreased prevalence of CE in the last years, it is suggested that clinicians and public health authorities, especially in the eastern parts of Slovenia where the most CE patients come from, should pay greater attention to this disease in the future.</p

Progress toward the development of vaccines against parasitic diseases: a review based on studies performed by participants of the Laveran seminar

Although significant advances have been made during the past 20 years, a better understanding of the orchestration of the immune response against a parasite candidate vaccine is still required for preparing vaccines which can induce the acquisition and the persistence of sterile immunity, without producing side effects in humans. This was, among others, one conclusion of the discussions between Thesis students and scientists. Only some aspects of the different steps of immune responses (recognition, protective effector mechanisms, cell regulation, cytokine activities, immunopathology, parasite escape mechanisms) are here reviewed. They are mainly related to malaria and schistosomiasis, but also to othet parasitic diseases, for which several experimental models have been developed

La circulation d’Echinococcus multilocularis entre ses hôtes naturels

In the various focuses of its wide geographical distribution, Echinococcus multilocularis moves between its natural hosts according to apparently unchanging mechanisms, although the hosts change. A factor of euzoonose, following Schwabe’s terminology Echinococcus multilocularis is first of all a parasite of Canids and Rodents, the latter being responsible for the focuses of the enzootic disease. Man is a marginal dead-end for this parasite, like any other mammal ; he plays, however, the role of indicator.Dans les différents foyers de sa vaste répartition géographique, Echinococcus multilocularis circule entre ses hôtes naturels selon des mécanismes qui semblent constants, bien que les hôtes eux-mêmes changent. Euzoonose, au sens de Schwabe, l’échinococcose alvéolaire est avant tout une parasitose des Canidés et des Rongeurs, ces derniers focalisant l’enzootie. L’Homme n’est, pour le parasite, qu’une impasse marginale, comme d’autres Mammifères au reste ; il joue cependant un rôle de révélateur.Houin R., Liance M. La circulation d’Echinococcus multilocularis entre ses hôtes naturels . In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 40, n°2, 1985. pp. 225-230

Un nouvel hôte intermédiaire naturel d’

Le rat musqué a été trouvé naturellement infesté par Echinococcus multilocularis dans le Territoire de Belfort. Son rôle dans le cadre d’un cycle sauvage est discuté. Les animaux chassés peuvent être à l’origine d’une transmission à l’homme, par l’intermédiaire du chien

Covalent cross-linking of liver collagen by pyridinoline increases in the course of experimental alveolar echinococcosis

International audienceWe report that covalent cross-linking of collagen molecules by pyridinoline increases significantly in liver in a murine model of alveolar echinococcosis. The highest amount of pyridinoline per collagen molecule (up to 3.5 fold the control values) is found in liver parasitic lesions. It is also increased, but to a far lesser extent, at distance from the fibrotic areas, in macroscopically normal zones of the liver, suggesting that the increase in mature collagen cross-linking occurring in the fibrogenesis due to Echinococcus multilocularis infection involves the whole liver. The comparison of these data with those we have obtained in another parasitic disease, murine schistosomiasis leading to a milder liver fibrosis, largely reversible following chemotherapy, supports a relationship between the liver pyridinoline level and the severity of liver fibrosis. Pyridinoline could be a tissular marker of chronic liver fibrosis in parasitic diseases.We report that covalent cross-linking of collagen molecules by pyridinoline increases significantly in liver in a murine model of alveolar echinococcosis. The highest amount of pyridinoline per collagen molecule (up to 3.5 fold the control values) is found in liver parasitic lesions. It is also increased, but to a far lesser extent, at distance from the fibrotic areas, in macroscopically normal zones of the liver, suggesting that the increase in mature collagen cross-linking occurring in the fibrogenesis due to Echinococcus multilocularis infection involves the whole liver. The comparison of these data with those we have obtained in another parasitic disease, murine schistosomiasis leading to a milder liver fibrosis, largely reversible following chemotherapy, supports a relationship between the liver pyridinoline level and the severity of liver fibrosis. Pyridinoline could be a tissular marker of chronic liver fibrosis in parasitic diseases

Hydrocephalus and racemose cysticercosis: surgical alternative by endoscopic third ventriculostomy

International audienc

L'échinococcose alvéolaire dans le département français des Ardennes : cas isolés ou nouveau foyer ?

Les trois premiers cas humains autochtones d'échinococcose alvéolaire ont été diagnostiqués dans le département des Ardennes (France). Ils constituent les mentions les plus occidentales de la maladie en Europe septentrionale. Les auteurs discutent ces cas dans un contexte épidémiologique et évoquent un lien probable avec les cycles connus régionalement en milieu naturel et ses conséquences sur la santé publique locale dans les années à venir

Echinococcus multilocularis infection in mice: in vivo treatment with a low dose of IFN-gamma decreases metacestode growth and liver fibrogenesis.

International audienceAs no antiparasitic drug is definitively efficient in patients with alveolar echinococcosis, the effects of exogenous IFN-gamma on murine Echinococcus multilocularis infection were assessed with regards to the parasite burden, parasite-specific immune responses, and the urinary level of the collagen cross-link pyridinolines. They were analyzed after 3-week treatments with 1 or 5 micrograms of IFN-gamma per day twice a week. The treatment with 1 microgram transiently reduced the liver metacestode load, and the metastase weight as far as 6 weeks after the end of treatment. It slightly increased Th 1-type T cell responses and reduced the excretion of pyridinolines. These results should encourage further study to assess whether the decrease in liver fibrosis leads to an improvement of the efficacy of albendazole therapy. In contrast, the treatment with 5 micrograms increased the liver metacestode load and was less efficient than that with 1 microgram in decreasing pyridinoline excretion. These results incitate to follow up carefully patients with alveolar echinococcosis who are treated with IFN-gamma.As no antiparasitic drug is definitively efficient in patients with alveolar echinococcosis, the effects of exogenous IFN-gamma on murine Echinococcus multilocularis infection were assessed with regards to the parasite burden, parasite-specific immune responses, and the urinary level of the collagen cross-link pyridinolines. They were analyzed after 3-week treatments with 1 or 5 micrograms of IFN-gamma per day twice a week. The treatment with 1 microgram transiently reduced the liver metacestode load, and the metastase weight as far as 6 weeks after the end of treatment. It slightly increased Th 1-type T cell responses and reduced the excretion of pyridinolines. These results should encourage further study to assess whether the decrease in liver fibrosis leads to an improvement of the efficacy of albendazole therapy. In contrast, the treatment with 5 micrograms increased the liver metacestode load and was less efficient than that with 1 microgram in decreasing pyridinoline excretion. These results incitate to follow up carefully patients with alveolar echinococcosis who are treated with IFN-gamma