Medical parasitology taxonomy update, January 2018 to May 2020

The taxonomy of parasites of medical and public health importance is rapidly evolving. This minireview provides an update of taxonomic revisions and additions in the field of medical parasitology from January 2018 to May 2020. Several established human parasites have been reassigned to different genera over the past 2 years, while a number of novel parasites of humans have been identified. A comprehensive summary of these changes is provided here, and Taenia suihominis is proposed as a replacement name for Taenia asiaticus Eom et al., which is a homonym of Taenia asiatica von Linstow. © 2021 American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved. Erratum: Medical parasitology taxonomy update, January 2018 to May 2020 (Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2021) 59:2 (e01308-20) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01308-2

Imported Haycocknema perplexum Infection, United States

We report an imported case of myositis caused by a rare parasite, Haycocknema perplexum, in Australia in a 37-year-old man who had progressive facial, axial, and limb weakness, dysphagia, dysphonia, increased levels of creatine kinase and hepatic aminotransferases, and peripheral eosinophilia for 8 years. He was given extended, high-dose albendazole. © 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved

Introduction of the exotic tick Hyalomma truncatum on a human with travel to Ethiopia: A case report

An Oregon resident returned from a photography trip to Ethiopia with a male Hyalomma truncatum tick attached to the skin on his lower back. The tick was identified morphologically and deposited in the U.S. National Tick Collection housed at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. The public health importance of Hyalomma species of ticks and diagnostic dilemmas with identifying exotic ticks imported into the U.S. are discussed.Keywords: Vector-borne, Hyalomma, Exotic, Tick

Where have all the diagnostic morphological parasitologists gone?

Advances in laboratory techniques have revolutionized parasitology diagnostics over the past several decades. Widespread implementation of rapid antigen detection tests has greatly expanded access to tests for global parasitic threats such as malaria, while next-generation amplification and sequencing methods allow for sensitive and specific detection of human and animal parasites in complex specimen matrices. Recently, the introduction of multiplex panels for human gastrointestinal infections has enhanced the identification of common intestinal protozoa in feces along with bacterial and viral pathogens. Despite the benefits provided by novel diagnostics, increased reliance on nonmicroscopy-based methods has contributed to the progressive, widespread loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification. Loss of microscopy and morphology skills has the potential to negatively impact patient care, public health, and epidemiology. Molecular- and antigen-based diagnostics are not available for all parasites and may not be suitable for all specimen types and clinical settings. Furthermore, inadequate morphology experience may lead to missed and inaccurate diagnoses and erroneous descriptions of new human parasitic diseases. This commentary highlights the need to maintain expert microscopy and morphological parasitology diagnostic skills within the medical and scientific community. We proposed that light microscopy remains an important part of training and practice in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and that efforts should be made to train the next generation of morphological parasitologists before the requisite knowledge, skills, and capacity for this complex and important mode of diagnosis are lost. In summary, the widespread, progressive loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification negatively impacts patient care, public health, and epidemiology. © 2022 American Society for Microbiology

A new species of \u3ci\u3eDalopius\u3c/i\u3e Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Elaterinae) from Mississippi

Dalopius mississippiensis Mathison, new species is described from Monroe County, Mississippi (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Elaterinae). The new species is compared to other members of the cognatus-group in eastern North America. The male genitalia are illustrated

A new species of \u3ci\u3eDipropus\u3c/i\u3e Germar (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from Florida, with taxonomic and morphological notes and a new key to the species of the eastern United States

Dipropus tequesta Johnson new species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is described from southern Florida. Dipropus fuscus (LeConte) is a new synonym of D. soleatus (Say), and D. granosus (Fall) is a new synonym of D. asper (LeConte). The flightless female of D. asper is described and provides the first report of brachyptery and endogean habits in Dipropus. A key to the species of the eastern United States and a new checklist of species for the country are provided

A new species of Dalopius Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Elaterinae) from Mississippi

Dalopius mississippiensis Mathison, new species is described from Monroe County, Mississippi (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Elaterinae). The new species is compared to other members of the cognatus-group in eastern North America. The male genitalia are illustrated

Cyclosporiasis—Updates on Clinical Presentation, Pathology, Clinical Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal coccidian parasite transmitted to humans through the consumption of oocysts in fecally contaminated food and water. Infection is found worldwide and is highly endemic in tropical and subtropical regions with poor sanitation. Disease in developed countries is usually observed in travelers and in seasonal outbreaks associated with imported produce from endemic areas. Recently, summertime outbreaks in the United States have also been linked to locally grown produce. Cyclosporiasis causes a diarrheal illness which may be severe in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The increased adoption of highly sensitive molecular diagnostic tests, including commercially available multiplex panels for gastrointestinal pathogens, has facilitated the detection of infection and likely contributed to the increased reports of cases in developed countries. This manuscript reviews important aspects of the biology, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of C. cayetanensis and provides an in-depth discussion of current laboratory diagnostic methods

Parasitic infections of the central nervous system

Parasites are an uncommon cause of infections of the human central nervous system (CNS). When they do cause CNS infections; however, the results can be detrimental and as such, an accurate diagnosis needs to be made as soon as possible so treatment can be initiated. This chapter covers the taxonomy, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathology, treatment, and diagnosis of parasites of the CNS, with an emphasis on molecular detection and identification. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae

The classification of “parasites” in the medical field is a challenging notion, a group which historically has included all eukaryotes exclusive of fungi that invade and derive resources from the human host. Since antiquity, humans have been identifying and documenting parasitic infections, and this collective catalog of parasitic agents has expanded considerably with technology. As our understanding of species boundaries and the use of molecular tools has evolved, so has our concept of the taxonomy of human parasites. Consequently, new species have been recognized while others have been relegated to synonyms. On the other hand, the decline of expertise in classical parasitology and limited curricula have led to a loss of awareness of many rarely encountered species. Here, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all reported eukaryotic organisms (excluding fungi and allied taxa) parasitizing humans resulting in 274 genus-group taxa and 848 species-group taxa. For each species, or genus where indicated, a concise summary of geographic distribution, natural hosts, route of transmission and site within human host, and vectored pathogens are presented. Ubiquitous, human-adapted species as well as very rare, incidental zoonotic organisms are discussed in this annotated checklist. We also provide a list of 79 excluded genera and species that have been previously reported as human parasites but are not believed to be true human parasites or represent misidentifications or taxonomic changes