First Report of Echinococcus equinus in a Donkey in Turkey

A 2-year-old female donkey (Equus asinus) was euthanized in the Pathology Department of Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. Necropsy disclosed the presence of 7 hydatid cysts distributed throughout the lung parenchyma. One of those cysts represented the parasite material of the present study and was molecularly identified through sequencing of a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NADH1) gene, as Echinococcus equinus. The generated CO1 sequence supports the presence of the dominant haplotype as has been described in Europe and Africa. The NADH1 sequence was found similar to sequences reported in equids in Egypt and the United Kingdom. The molecular identification of E. equinus in a donkey is being reported for the first time in Turkey.

Liver transplantation for neotropical polycystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus vogeli: a case report

Neotropical polycystic echinococcosis (NPE) is a parasitic disease caused by cestodes of Echinococcus vogeli. This parasite grows most commonly in the liver, where it produces multiples cysts that cause hepatic and vessel necrosis, infects the biliary ducts, and disseminates into the peritoneal cavity, spreading to other abdominal and thoracic organs. In cases of disseminated disease in the liver and involvement of biliary ducts or portal system, liver transplantation may be a favorable option. We present a report of the first case of liver transplantation for the treatment of advanced liver NPE caused by E. vogeli.

Hidatidose policística no norte do Brasil: abordagem parasitológica e histopatológica de pacas e casos humanos / Polycystic hydatid in northern Brazil: parasitological and histopathological approach from human and pacas cases

A hidatidose policística é uma zoonose causada pelo cestóide Echinococcus vogeli, amplamente distribuído no norte do Brasil. Os hospedeiros definitivos são Speothos venaticus (cachorro-vinagre) e Canis familiaris (cães domésticos), enquanto Agouti paca (paca) é hospedeiro intermediário. Tanto as pacas quanto o homem (hospedeiro acidental) desenvolvem a forma larvar (metacestóide), principalmente na superfície e no interior do fígado. Esta tese tem como objetivo geral estudar as características parasitológicas e histopatológicas de metacestóides de E. vogeli, originários de pacas e humanos da região norte do Brasil, visto o conhecimento insuficiente ou mesmo o seu desconhecimento. Os fígados e mesentérios foram obtidos de oito pacientes com hidatidose policística durante ato cirúrgico na Fundação Hospital Estadual do Acre. Pacas foram capturadas no Município de Bujari, Floresta Estadual do Antimary, Acre. Durante a necropsia das pacas, foram observadas lesões macroscópicas (massas esbranquiçadas ou amareladas, semelhantes a bolhas na superfície dos fígados). Para a análise parasitológica foram aplicadas as microscopias de luz, contraste interferencial de Normaski (DIC) e varredura laser confocal. A análise morfométrica foi realizada com o auxílio do Programa Image Pro Plus Media Cybernetics. Os órgãos de pacas e humanos foram submetidos à análise histopatológica. Os pequenos e grandes ganchos rostelares apresentaram polimorfismo morfológico, enquanto a organização dos protoescólices acompanhou o padrão descrito para Echinococcus sp. Todas as pacas apresentavam cistos hepáticos, porém em apenas duas encontramos líquido hidático, comprovados pela presença dos ganchos e protoescólices. A análise histopatológica dos tecidos hepáticos das pacas confirmou a hidatidose policística e evidenciou, pela presença de agrupamentos de ovos, a coinfecção com Calodium hepaticum. As características morfológicas dos ganchos rostelares dos casos humanos não diferiram...

Polycystic hydatidosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the cestode Echinococcus vogeli, largely distributed in northern Brazil. The definitive hosts are Speothos venaticus (bush dogs) and Canis familiaris (domestic dogs), while Agouti paca (paca) is the intermediate host. Both the pacas and man (accidental host) develop the larval form (metacestodes), mainly on the surface and inside the liver. This thesis aims to study histopathological and parasitological characteristics of metacestodes of E. vogeli, from pacas and humans of the north region of Brazil, seen the insufficient knowledge or lack of it. The mesentery and livers were recovered from eight patients with polycystic hydatidosis during surgery in the Acre State Hospital Foundation. Pacas were captured in the municipality of Bujari, Antimary State Forest, Acre. During the pacas necropsy, macroscopic lesions were observed (whitish or yellowish masses, similar to blisters on the surface of the liver). Identification analyses were applied to light microscopy, interferential contrast microscopy of Normaski (DIC) and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Morphometric analysis was performed by Image Pro Plus Media Cybernetics program. The pacas and human organs were subjected to histopathological analysis. The small and large rostellar hooks presented morphological polymorphism while protoscoleces organisation accompanied the pattern described in Echinococcus sp. All pacas presented liver cysts, however in only two found proven by the presence of hydatid fluid, hooks and protoscoleces. Histopathological analysis of pacas’ hepatic tissues confirmed polycystic hydatidosis and evidenced by the presence of eggs clusters the Calodium hepaticum coinfection. The morphological characteristics of human cases rostellar hooks did not differ from described to the pacas; however, the hooks were greater than the mesenteric ones. Already in relation to protoscoleces, the mesenteric ones were larger than the liver...

Hidatidosis poliquística tropical por Echinococcus vogeli / Polycystic tropical echinococcosis due to Echinococcus vogeli

Antecedentes. Hace 30 años se reconoció que las tumoraciones poliquísticas en 13 pacientes autóctonos de países tropicales sudamericanos eran producidos por una nueva especie de parásitos, el Echinococcus vogeli. Ahora se conocen 200 casos en 12 países (desde Panamá hasta Brasil y Perú). Lugar. Cali, Colombia; Nueva Orleans y Seattle, USA. Diseño. Estudio experimental y retrospectivo. Objetivo. Se presenta esta enfermedad a países con zonas tropicales donde la enfermedad aún es desconocida. Métodos. Se estudiaron 78 pacientes. El curso fue crónico, de quistes abdominales, algunos dolorosos, hepáticos, con o sin cirrosis biliar, asociados a lesiones torácicas y mesentéricas. El 85% se localizó en el hígado y el 14% en el pulmón. El diagnóstico se basó en el examen físico, la radiología, la procedencia rural, el conocimiento de la paca, en la convivencia con perros y en la serológica. Conclusiones. El tratamiento se basa en la cirugía y el albendazol. La equinococosis poliquística tropical por el Echinococcus vogeli representa un problema médico severo en América del Sur, con mortalidad del 29%. Los casos diagnosticados representan una pequeña proporción de las infecciones humanas.

Background. Thirty year ago it was recognized experimentally that polycystic tumors in 13 autochthonous patients from south American countries were produced by a new species: Echinococcus vogeli. As of march 2007, 200 cases were known from 12 countries (from Panamá, Colombia and Venezuela to Brasil and Perú). Places. Cali, Colombia; New Orleans and Seattle, USA. Design. Experimental and retrospective studies. Objective. This disease is presented to the countries with tropical areas, where the illness is steel unknown. Methods. 78 patients were studied. They had cysts, sometime painful, connected with the liver, with or without biliar cirrhosis, associated with pulmonary and mesenteric lesions. 85% in the liver, 14% in the lung. The diagnosis was based in palpation, radiological imaging, rural origin, knowledge of the paca, history of closed contact with dogs and positive serology for echinococcosis. Conclusions. The combination of surgery and albendazol was the most efficient treatment. The tropical polycystic echinococcosis is a severe medical problem in South America with a 29% mortality. The number of diagnosed cases probably only represent a small proportion of the human infections.

new technique to avoid losing the strains of Echinococcus multilocularis during passaging

To examine the survival of Echinococcus multilocularis [E. multilocularis] and the formation of protoscoleces, under refrigerated conditions over a 43-day observation period. We conducted this study in Ege University, School of Medicine, from May-December, 2004. We included 4 healthy females and 2 males, 8-12 week old M. unguiculatus species [approximately 60-70 gr] for the study, as they are known to be susceptible to E. multilocularis. In this experimental study, we aimed to define a technique to keep the strains during these passages. We found preserved viability and virulence of E. multilocularis stored in RPMI 1640 plus 10% fetal calf serum at +40C. We accomplished the infection of the Meriones unguiculatus after in-vivo passaging from that flask, which we kept at +40C, and this proves the viability of protoscoleces and membranous structures perfectly at the 43rd day. We also found that E. multilocularis metacestodes and the formation of protoscoleces keep their viability up to 60 days and virulence up to 43 days under this condition. We recommend storing an extra flask during each passage as a precaution against losing strains

Equinococose policística na Amazônia oriental brasileira: atualização da casuística / Polycystic echinococcosis in the eastern brazilian Amazon: an update

Mediante critérios epidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais, foi levantada a casuística de equinococose policística no período de 1962 a 2003, no âmbito da Amazônia oriental brasileira, incluindo casos inéditos e aqueles já publicados. Dessa forma, foram identificados 40 casos da doença no referido período, compreendendo casos procedentes dos estados do Pará e Amapá, Brasil. A amplitude das idades foi de 10 a 72 anos. Do total 47,5% pertenciam ao sexo masculino. O fígado foi o órgão mais acometido (82,5% dos casos). O Echinococcus vogeli (Rausch e Bernstein, 1972), apresentou-se como o principal agente etiológico envolvido. A partir do reconhecimento da importância e das implicações do manejo da equinococose para a região tropical, acredita-se que deverá ocorrer uma implementação do diagnóstico precoce, tratamento adequado e de um melhor registro da doença.

By means of epidemiological and clinical-laboratorial approaches was consolidated an update of polycystic echinococcosis in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, period from 1962 to 2003, including unpublished cases and those already published. In that way, they were identified 40 cases of the disease in referred period, understanding cases coming from the States of Pará and Amapá, Brazil. The width of the ages went from 10 to 72 years and 47,5% belonged to the masculine sex. The liver was the attacked organ (82,5% of the cases). The Echinococcus vogeli (Rausch and Bernstein, 1972), comes as the main agent involved. Starting from the recognition of the importance and of the implications of the handling of the echinococcosis for the tropical area, it is believed that should happen an improvement of the diagnosis, appropriate treatment and of a better registration of the disease.

Investigación experimental de la equinococosis canina a partir de quiste hidatídico de origen porcino en México / Experimental investigation of canine echinococcosis from swine hydatic cyst in Mexico

Objetivo - Para evaluar la infección y obtener el estado adulto del cestodos, se buscó reproducir la equinococosis en perros a partir de quiste hidatídico de origen porcino. Métodos - Se formaron 2 grupos, uno de 5 y otro de 3 perros, a cada animal del grupo experimental se le dió 2 g de membrana germinativa de quíste hidatídico fértil por vía oral, el segundo grupo fue testigo. Ambos grupos fueron evaluados clínica, serológica y parasitológicamente, en el grupo experimental se sacrificó un animal el día 35 de la infección y los siguientes cada 5 dias hasta el 55, en el segundo grupo todos se sacrificaron el día 55. Se observaron huevos del cestodos en heces a partir del dia 51 postinfección. La evaluación morfológica se realizó mediante observación microscópica del raspado de mucosa intestinal. Resultados - De 50 cestodos analizados, 10 de cada uno de los perros infectados, 49 (98 por ciento) presentaron 3 proglótidos y 1 (2 por ciento) tenía 4; 18 (36 por ciento) de los cestodos presentaban un proglótido grávido. La longitud de los estróbilos varió de 1,6 a 2,6 mm. El número promedio de los ganchos largos y cortos fue de 31 y 34 respectivamente. La longitud de los ganchos largos varió entre 0,081 y 0,09 mm, los ganchos cortos fluctuaron entre 0,034 y 0,041 mm. En los perros evaluados clínicamente, el número de leucocitos y la cantidad de proteínas plasmáticas fue significativamente mayor en el grupo testigo (P<0,05); la cantidad de alfa globulinas fue mayor en el grupo infectado (P<0,05). Conclusiones - Los resultados permiten confirmar el ciclo perro-cerdo y na infección subclínica en los huéspedes definitivos, lo que dificulta su diagnóstico y control en una especie intimamente relacionada con el hombre.

Molecular genetic variation in Echinococcus and Taenia: an update.

An update on our understanding of molecular variation in Echinococcus and Taenia is provided. Genetic variation within certain species of Echinococcus is now a well accepted phenomenon and a number of intraspecific variants or strains of E. granulosus, in particular, have been characterized hitherto using a range of procedures. Newly acquired molecular information has now been used in epidemiological studies with E. granulosus and in phylogenetic analysis of the genus Echinococcus. Similarly, DNA approaches have been applied for taxonomic characterization of the recently recognized Asian Taenia, a third form of human Taenia, which occurs in Southeast Asia, and which is distinguishable from, but closely related to, Taenia saginata.

Implicancia terapéutica de la fertilidad del quiste hidático en los distintos estados evolutivos de la hidatidosis humana / Therapeutical implication of hydatic cyst fertility in the different evolutive stages of human hydatidosis

Se determinó la fertilidad del quiste hidático (QH) humano en sus diferentes estados evolutivos. Se halló máxima vitalidad en quistes hialinos y en la mayoría de los multivesiculares y vesículas hijas de quistes parcilamente degenerados. No hubo fertilidad en quistes degenerados sin vesículas ni en los mastics. La presencia de bilis y supuración coincidieron con quistes muertos, salvo cuando persistian vesículas enteras. La punción guiada por ecografia y la cirugía laparoscopica se consideran de alto riesgo de siembra, aún en quistes halianos pequeños. El tratamiento farmacológico sólo sería útil en casos seleccionados de QH fértiles