Experimental Life History and Biological Characteristics of Fasciola gigantica (Digenea: Fasciolidae)

This study was conducted to investigate the life history, morphology, and maturation of larval stages and adult worms of Fasciola gigantica in experimental mice. Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa was used as the intermediate host, and Oryza sativa was used for encystment of the metacercariae, while Mus musculus was used as the definitive host for maturation study. Fresh eggs from the gall bladder of water buffaloes fully developed into embryonated ones and hatched out at days 11-12 after incubation at about 29masculineC. Free-swimming miracidia rapidly penetrated into the snail host, and gradually developed into the next larval stages; sporocyst, redia, and daughter redia with cercariae. Fully-developed cercariae were separated from the redia and shed from the snails on day 39 post-infection (PI). Free-swimming cercariae were immediately allowed to adhere to rice plants, and capsules were constructed to protect metacercariae on rice plants. Juvenile worms were detected in intestines of mice at days 3 and 6 PI, but they were found in the bile duct from day 9 PI. Juvenile and adult flukes were recovered from 16 mice experimentally infected with metacercariae, with the average recovery rate of 35.8%. Sexually mature adult flukes were recovered from day 42 PI. It could be confirmed that experimentally encysted metacercariae could infect and develop to maturity in the experimental host. The present study reports for the first time the complete life history of F. gigantica by an experimental study in Thailand. The obtained information can be used as a guide for prevention, elimination, and treatment of F. gigantica at environment and in other hosts.

Experimental Life History and Biological Characteristics of Fasciola gigantica (Digenea: Fasciolidae)

This study was conducted to investigate the life history, morphology, and maturation of larval stages and adult worms of Fasciola gigantica in experimental mice. Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa was used as the intermediate host, and Oryza sativa was used for encystment of the metacercariae, while Mus musculus was used as the definitive host for maturation study. Fresh eggs from the gall bladder of water buffaloes fully developed into embryonated ones and hatched out at days 11-12 after incubation at about 29masculineC. Free-swimming miracidia rapidly penetrated into the snail host, and gradually developed into the next larval stages; sporocyst, redia, and daughter redia with cercariae. Fully-developed cercariae were separated from the redia and shed from the snails on day 39 post-infection (PI). Free-swimming cercariae were immediately allowed to adhere to rice plants, and capsules were constructed to protect metacercariae on rice plants. Juvenile worms were detected in intestines of mice at days 3 and 6 PI, but they were found in the bile duct from day 9 PI. Juvenile and adult flukes were recovered from 16 mice experimentally infected with metacercariae, with the average recovery rate of 35.8%. Sexually mature adult flukes were recovered from day 42 PI. It could be confirmed that experimentally encysted metacercariae could infect and develop to maturity in the experimental host. The present study reports for the first time the complete life history of F. gigantica by an experimental study in Thailand. The obtained information can be used as a guide for prevention, elimination, and treatment of F. gigantica at environment and in other hosts.

Ultrastructural description of Ceratomyxa microlepis sp. nov. (Phylum Myxozoa): a parasite infecting the gall bladder of Hemiodus microlepis, a freshwater teleost from the Amazon River

A new ceratomyxid parasite was examined for taxonomic identification, upon being found infecting the gall bladder of Hemiodus microlepis (Teleostei: Hemiodontidae), a freshwater teleost collected from the Amazon River, Brazil. Light and transmission electron microscopy revealed elongated crescent-shaped spores constituted by two asymmetrical shell valves united along a straight sutural line, each possessing a lateral projection. The spores body measured 5.2 ± 0.4 µm (n = 25) in length and 35.5 ± 0.9 µm (n = 25) in total thickness. The lateral projections were asymmetric, one measuring 18.1 ± 0.5 µm (n = 25) in thickness and the other measuring 17.5 ± 0.5 µm (n = 25) in thickness. Two equal-sized subspherical polar capsules measuring 2.2 ± 0.3 µm in diameter were located at the same level, each possessing a polar filament with 5-6 coils. The sporoplasm was binucleate. Considering the morphometric data analyzed from the microscopic observations, as well as the host species and its geographical location, this paper describes a new myxosporean species, herein named Ceratomyxa microlepis sp. nov.; therefore representing the first description of a freshwater ceratomyxid from the South American region.

Ascariasis vesicular: reporte de un caso / Gallbladder ascariasis: case report

We report a case of a young patient who was admitted for study and management of severe hypocalcemia. During evolution of the condition the patient presents abdominal pain (biliary colic) related to the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides in the gallbladder, responding to conservative medical therapy.

Reportamos un caso de un paciente joven que ingresó para estudio y manejo de una hipocalcemia grave. Durante su evolución el paciente presentó dolor abdominal (cólico vesicular) relacionado con la presencia de un ejemplar de Ascaris lumbricoides en la vesícula biliar, que respondió a terapia médica conservadora.

Fasciola Hepatica worm swims in the gallbladder

Human infestation with liver flukes is rare, as they are accidental host by ingestion of contaminated water and vegetables. To document the presence of this disease in Iraq/ Kurdistan region, we are reporting this case of Fasciola Hepatica infestation to a young lady with recurrent attacks of Rt. Abdominal pain. The worm was found, during cholecystectomy, swimming in the bile of gallbladder

Changes in Sonographic Findings after Treatment of Patients with Clonorchiasis in a Heavy Endemic Area

We measured changes in sonographic findings of patients with clonorchiasis after a treatment in a highly endemic area. A total of 347 residents showed positive stool results for Clonorchis sinensis eggs in a village in northeastern China, and were treated with praziquantel. Of them, 132 patients underwent abdominal sonography both before and 1 year after treatment, and the changes in sonographic findings of 83 cured subjects were compared. Diffuse dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts (DDIHD) was found in 82 patients (98.2%) before and 80 (96.4%) after treatment, which was improved in 3, aggravated in 1, and unchanged in 79 patients. Increased periductal echogenicity (IPDE) was observed in 42 patients (50.6%) before and 45 (54.2%) after treatment, which was improved in 5, aggravated in 8, and unchanged in 70 patients. Floating echogenic foci in the gallbladder (FEFGB) was detected in 32 patients (38.6%) before and 17 (20.5%) after treatment, which was improved in 20, aggravated in 5, and unchanged in 58 patients. Improvement of FEFGB only was statistically significantly (P = 0.004). The present results confirm that DDIHD and IPDE persist but FEFGB decreases significantly at 1 year after treatment. In a heavy endemic area, the sonographic finding of FEFGB may suggest active clonorchiasis 1 year after treatment.

Enclavamiento de Ascaris lumbricoides en vía biliar: presentación de un caso / Bolts of ascaris lumbricoides in via biliary: presentation of a case

La ascariasis es una parasitosis cosmopolita, frecuente en la población infantil a nivel mundial, dado que no requiere factores climáticos o ambientales especiales. Ingresa al organismo por ingesta de huevos, cumpliendo un ciclo hístico-tisular trans-alveolocapilar en su desarrollo para retomar al yeyuno como parásito adulto, etapa en la cual tiene una movilidad exagerada cuando se altera la homeostasis (sobre todo fiebre en los niños), pudiendo migrar a diferentes sitios originando diversas complicaciones entre las que destaca la migración a vía biliar y su enclavamiento. Presentamos el caso de una escolar de 8 años de edad, procedente de Beni, que consulta por dolor abdominal severisimo en flanco derecho de diez días de evolución, irradiado a epigastrio. Se interna en el Hospital de San Borja y al no ser controlado el cuadro, es remitido al Hospital del Niño de la ciudad de La Paz , donde se encuentran dos Ascaris móviles en interior de vesícula y colédoco en la ecografía. Se administra pamoato de pirantel, sin disminución inicial del dolor, mismo que por su intensidad, tiempo de evolución, se decide programarla para cirugía; ante ls atenuación del dolor se solicita control ecográfico en el que se evidencia la salida espontánea de los parásitos, por lo que se continua con una conducta conservadora, con buena evaluación.

The Ascaris is a cosmopolitan parasite, frequent in children inthe whole world, since it does not need any special climatic orenvironmental factors for its growth and development.It enters the organism by intake of eggs, completing a histicaltissuetransalveolar capillary cycle in its development returning tothe jejunum as adult parasite. In this stage it has an exaggeratedmobility when the homoeostasis is altered (principally fever inchildren), being able to migrate to different locations causing diversecomplications, among which the migration to bilious conducts standsout with the ascaris´ enclosure.We present the case of an 8 year-old school boy, who came from theBeni with extremely severe abdominal pain on the right side with anevolution of 10 days and irradiation to the epigastrium. The boy hadbeen admitted to the hospital of San Borja, and since his problemwas not solved, he was transferred to the Hospital del Niño in la Paz,where two mobile ascaris were found inside the gall bladder and thecholedoco in the echography. Pamoato of pirantel was administered,without initial decrease of the pain. Due to the intensity, and the timeof evolution of the pain, surgery was considered. When the pain wasattenuated an echographic control was made that showed thespontaneous exit of the parasites. For this reason, the conservativetreatment was continued with a positive evolution.

Identification of parasite DNA in common bile duct stones by PCR and DNA sequencing

We attempted to identify parasite DNA in the biliary stones of humans via PCR and DNA sequencing. Genomic DNA was isolated from each of 15 common bile duct (CBD) stones and 5 gallbladder (GB) stones. The patients who had the CBD stones suffered from cholangitis, and the patients with GB stones showed acute cholecystitis, respectively. The 28S and 18S rDNA genes were amplified successfully from 3 and/or 1 common bile duct stone samples, and then cloned and sequenced. The 28S and 18S rDNA sequences were highly conserved among isolates. Identity of the obtained 28S D1 rDNA with that of Clonorchis sinensis was higher than 97.6%, and identity of the 18S rDNA with that of other Ascarididae was 97.9%. Almost no intra-specific variations were detected in the 28S and 18S rDNA with the exception of a few nucleotide variations, i.e., substitution and deletion. These findings suggest that C. sinensis and Ascaris lumbricoides may be related with the biliary stone formation and development.

Ingestion of Fasciola gigantica metacercariae by the intermediate host snail, Lymnaea ollula, and infectivity of discharged metacercariae.

The rate of ingestion of Fasciola normal metacercariae (NMc) encysted on plants by Lymnaea ollula was examined, and the infectivity of the ingested metacercariae (IMc) in the feces of the host snail to mice was studied. As a result of ingestion by snails, the metacercarial outer cyst disappeared in about 50% of IMc in feces. There was no significant difference in the liver juvenile recovery at autopsy between mice inoculated with NMc and IMc kinds of metacercariae. Compared with NMc, the number of IMc could more easily be counted, because the separation of IMc from fecal contents under a microscope was not laborious.

Ascaridiasis biliar: manejo endoscopico / Biliary ascaridiasis: endoscopic management

Objetivos. Este estudio presenta ocho casos de ascaridiasis hepatobiliar en cuatro niños y cuatro adultos. Se describen los hallazgos clínicos, paraclínicos e imaginológicos, así como la evolución de los pacientes. Métodos. Estos casos se recogieron en el período de dos años e incluyen cuatro niños de 19, 22, SO y 97 meses y cuatro adultos de 47, 49, 52 y 59 años. Se revisaron las historias clínicas y los resultados de las principales pruebas diagnósticas. Resultados. La totalidad de los pacientes presentaban vómito, dolor abdominal, palidez y distensión al momento de la evaluación inicial. El paso de Ascaris lumbricoides con las heces se dio en dos de los cuatro niños y en ninguno de los adultos. Hubo antecedente de vómito de los parásitos en tres niños, fiebre y hepatomegalia en dos de ellos. Ninguno de los pacientes presentó Ascaris lumbricoides en el conducto pancreático. En un paciente adulto se documentó un absceso hepático y en otro colangitis. En uno de los niños (19 meses) se dejó un dren nasobiliar para la administración posterior de piperazina. Conclusiones. El ultrasonido es la imagen diagnóstica de elección, demostrando con este examen la presencia de áscaris en la vía biliar de los seis pacientes, así como los signos del absceso hepático en un paciente. La colangiopancreatografía se utilizó para confirmar el diagnóstico y fue fundamental para el tratamiento, permitiendo la remoción completa de los parásitos en seis de siete pacientes o la administración directa a la vía biliar de piperazina por un dren nasobiliar. En un paciente el parásito se retiró del colédoco por endoscopio convencional

Using pig biliary system, in vivo propagation of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, an AIDS-related zoonotic pathogen

A microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microorganism recognized in AIDS patients, and slow scientific progress is attributed to our inability to propagate the parasite. We report upon the development of a system of propagation using the pig biliary system. The parasite spores were continuously detected in the bile samples post onset of spore shedding in the gall bladder, which suggests that this organism maintain persistent infection in the biliary system and that the hepatobiliary tree may represent a reservoir of infection. In conclusion the biliary tree is an adequate niche for the propagation of E. bieneusi. This work has also resulted in the development of a procedure of ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis for aspirating biles. This is a simple and non-surgical procedure, and creates no signs of clinical complications in the livers and the gall bladders after dozens of separate attempts. Thus, this is a very useful and safe technique for the aspiration of bile from live animals.

Ascaris en vesícula biliar / Gallbladder ascaris

Se presenta 10 casos de pacientes portadores de un áscaris en el inferior de las vías biliares asociado a litiasis de la misma durante los años 1977 a 1997

Primer registro parasitológico en pleurodema thaul: Lesson 1826: anura, leptodactylidea / First parasitological report in pleurodema thaul: Lesson 1826: anura, leptodactylidae

Pleurodema thaul Lesson, 1826 es una especie de amplia distribución geográfica y gran variabilidad morfológica, por lo cual, se plantea el estudio de su parasitofauna para contribuir a dilucidar el estado taxonómico de las diferentes poblaciones. En este trabajo se da a conocer la composición taxonómica de la parasitofauna encontrada en una población local de P. thaul, ubicada en Concepción, además de características cuantitativas (prevalencia, intensidad y abundancia) y microhabitat de los taxa parasitarios encontrados. Se encontraron tres especies de nemátodos: aplectan chilensis, rhabdias sp. y oswaldocruzia sp. más una especie de protozoo coccidio del género eimeria, constituyendo los primeros registros para P thaul

Ascariasis en vesícula y vías biliares / Ascariasis in gall-bladder and bile ducts

La ascariasis del árbol biliar es una entidad quirúrgica poco común por lo que es susceptible de originar problemas de diagnóstico diferencial. En este trabajo se presenta un caso de colecistitis por áscaris impactado con el conducto cístico y dos casos de áscaris localizados en el colédoco. Se hace un análisis retrospectivo de las características del cuadro clínico que pueden orientar al diagnóstico etiológico. Se concluye que esta entidad debe sospecharse en pacientes de nivel socioeconómico bajo, provenientes del medio rural o de áreas tropicales que presentan síntomas de cólico biliar atípico

Ascaridiasis biliar / Biliary ascaridiasis

El áscaris adulto usualmente se encuentra en el intestino pero puede emigrar a múltiples órganos. Las vías biliares son el sitio más frecuente de localización ectópica del parásito, donde puede ocasionar complicaciones graves. Sin embargo la ascaridiasis de las vías biliares es una afección muy rara, aún en los países donde esta parasitosis es endémica. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 28 años, con historia de anemia drepanocitica, que es llevada a quirófano con impresión diagnóstica de ictericia obtructiva y colangitis, extrayéndose un ascaris de 20 cms del cóledoco. Se revisa la experiencia nacional e internacional, discutiéndose los términos diagnósticos y tratamiento de esta parasitosis en el sistema biliar

Human pathology of Opisthorchis viverrini infection: a comparison of adults and children.

The pathology of human opisthorchiasis in 22 adults (20 to 68 years) and 7 children (7 to 15 years) at autopsy is described. The changes of the liver in adults and children are similar and are summarized as follows: Enlargement of the liver was a common finding. Pericholangitis was observed in most cases. The pathology was confined to the large and medium-sized bile ducts where the flukes inhabited. The small interlobular bile ducts had minimal or unremarkable changes. Dilatation of the bile ducts with hyperplasia, desquamation and proliferation of the bile duct epithelial cells, glandular formation and fibrous connective tissue infiltration of the walls were the most common features. The pathological changes were well established within 7 to 15 years. Dilatation of the gallbladder, chronic cholecystitis and carcinoma were found only in adults. Eight of ten cases were cholangiocarcinoma and two were hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ultrasonographic study of the biliary system in opisthorchiasis patients after treatment with praziquantel.

Ultrasonographic examination of the liver and biliary system using a portable ultrasound unit was performed in 1987 in 647 opisthorchiasis patients who had been treated with praziquantel during 1981 to 1986. Treatments was repeated annually in those reinfected. The reinfection rate was 53.9% in the first year and gradually declined. Ultrasonographic findings were normal in 80.6% of subjects. The most common abnormal finding was liver enlargement (14.8%), followed by dilatation of the gallbladder (3.5%), sludge formation (2.1%) and thickening of the wall of the gallbladder (1.0%). Gallstones were found in 7 cases (1.0%). Dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts was detected in one subject (0.1%). The incidence of gallstones in treated patients was similar to that reported in a large necropsy series of the general population. Prospective studies will be needed to further investigation the association between opisthorchiasis, treatment and gallstone formation.