RESUMO
This work describes associations of Thiara (Tarebia) granifera, its larval trematode community, and Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei at a freshwater reservoir in Jamaica. Larvae of 2 trematodes were present, i.e., a notocotylid (15.3%) and Philophthalmus sp. (1.3%), in 3,575 T. granifera examined. The prevalence of both infections increased with snail shell length (H â=â 56, P < 0.01, H â=â 23.1, P < 0.01, respectively). Only 3.0% (n â=â 595) of infected snails possessed reproductive stages, compared with 90.3% (n â=â 2,980) of uninfected snails (χ(2) â=â 2,059.8, df â=â 1, P < 0.001); both trematodes negatively impacted snail reproduction. Chaetogaster l. limnaei occurred within the mantle cavity of T. granifera with a prevalence of 2.3% (n â=â 3,575); intensity ranged from 1 to 6 annelids. Notocotylid larvae occurred in 32.5% (n â=â 83) of snails also harboring C. l. limnaei, compared with 14.9% (n â=â 3,492) of snails lacking the annelid (χ(2) â=â 18.127; P < 0.001). Chaetogaster l. limnaei appears not to influence the recruitment of egg-transmitted, notocotylid infections to snails. Ingestion of emergent cercariae by the annelid was observed; this may impact transmission of the parasite. The article presents the first report of a notocotylid and C. l. limnaei in T. granifera, and of Philophthalmus sp. in Jamaica.
Assuntos
Oligoquetos/fisiologia , Caramujos/parasitologia , Trematódeos/fisiologia , Animais , Fertilidade , Água Doce , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Jamaica , Estações do Ano , Caramujos/fisiologia , SimbioseRESUMO
The population distribution and zoonotic potential of gastrointestinal helminths in a naturally infected population of wild rats (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) in Jamaica are described. One hundred and thirty (29.7%) of 437 rats captured in the study were infected: 104 (35%) of 297 R. rattus compared with 26 (18.6%) of 140 R. norvegicus. Nine species of gastrointestinal helminths were recovered: Raillietina sp. (0.2%), Trichuris sp. (0.2%), Rictularia sp. (0.7%), Syphacia obvelata (1.1%), Strongyloides ratti (1.4%), Hymenolepis diminuta (3.8%), Protospirura muricola (4.3%), Moniliformis moniliformis (11.2%), and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (14.2%). In a logistic model, the single risk factor identified for both M. moniliformis and P. muricola was R. rattus, compared with R. norvegicus (OR = 8.369 and 9.714, respectively). In comparison, the risk factor predicted for infection with N. brasiliensis was the northeastern section of Jamaica (OR = 11.000) compared with western Jamaica. Rictularia sp. represents a new geographic distribution record for the Caribbean region. Hymenolepis diminuta, M. moniliformis, Raillietina sp., and Rictularia sp. are potentially zoonotic, but only human infection with H. diminuta has been previously reported in the Caribbean.
Assuntos
Helmintíase Animal/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Roedores/epidemiologia , Animais , Animais Selvagens , Feminino , Helmintíase Animal/parasitologia , Helmintíase Animal/transmissão , Helmintos/classificação , Helmintos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Helmintos/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/transmissão , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Prevalência , Ratos , Doenças dos Roedores/parasitologia , Doenças dos Roedores/transmissão , Zoonoses/parasitologia , Zoonoses/transmissãoRESUMO
After an outbreak in 2000 of eosinophilic meningitis in tourists to Jamaica, we looked for Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats and snails on the island. Overall, 22% (24/109) of rats harbored adult worms, and 8% (4/48) of snails harbored A. cantonensis larvae. This report is the first of enzootic A. cantonensis infection in Jamaica, providing evidence that this parasite is likely to cause human cases of eosinophilic meningitis.
Assuntos
Angiostrongylus cantonensis/isolamento & purificação , Surtos de Doenças , Meningite/epidemiologia , Ratos/parasitologia , Caramujos/parasitologia , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , MasculinoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the status of infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild rats and snails in Jamaica following an outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis amongst tourists. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one Rattus rattus and 94 R norvegicus were collected, mainly from the eastern portion of Jamaica. The animals were dissected and the heart and pulmonary arteries explored to reveal A cantonensis. Similarly, several species of land snails were collected. A portion of the head/foot was excised, fragmented and placed in separate dishes of digestion fluid (0.01 percent pepsin in 0.7 percent v/v aqeous HCI). Dishes were examined for nematode larvae 4-5 hours and 24 hours post-digestion. A microscopical comparison of larvae with museum specimens confirmed identification. RESULTS: Overall, significantly more R rattus (42.7 percent) than R morvegicus (21.3 percent) were infected (x2=11.28;p<0.0001). Considering only those parishes where 15 or more rats were collected (Hanover, Manchester, St.James, St. Elizabeth, Kingston and St.Andrew, and Portland) the prevalence of rodent infections ranged from 6 to 59 percent. Of three snails and one slug species collected, only Thelidomus asper harboured A cantonensis larvae. This snail was collected from Manchester where the highest prevalence of rodent infections also occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that A cantonensis is present in rats and snails in Jamaica. In the context of reports (1996, 2000) of eosinophilic meningitis on the island, we recommend that public health officials, clinical parasitologists and travel medicine practitioners consider A cantonensis as a causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis in residents and travellers to Jamaica. (AU)
Assuntos
21003 , Humanos , Ratos , Angiostrongylus cantonensis/parasitologia , Meningite/epidemiologia , Ratos/parasitologia , JamaicaRESUMO
We researched epidemiologic associations between environmental and demographic factors and prevalence of Heliobacter pylori infection in a suburban Jamaican community. Using a clustered sampling technique, 22 domestic yards enclosing 60 separate households were randomly selected from a local community. All household members (n=346) were invited to participate following informed consent; the overall compliance rate ws 58.9 percent. A detect IgG antibodies raised against H. pylori. Environmental and demographic information was obtained by questionnaire. The seroprevalence of H. pylori was 69.9 percent (n=202). Analysis of the independent variables revealed three major components: Component 1 described, collectively, good personal hygiene and sanitation, indoor water supply and absence of straying animals in the peridomestic area; Component 2 included older age, good personal hygiene and large yard size; Component 3 the presence of domestic animals (cats and dogs) and again, large yard size. These three complexes explained 42.2 percent of the variability in the data set. Logistic regression showed that Components 2 and 3 were independently associated with H. pylori seropositivity, indicating that a combination of demographic, environmental and zoonotic factors is involved in the spread of H. pylori infections at the tropical community level. (AU)
Assuntos
Adulto , Lactente , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Criança , Pré-Escolar , 21003 , Adolescente , Cães , Recém-Nascido , Helicobacter pylori , Infecções por Helicobacter/epidemiologia , Distribuição por Idade , Gatos , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Saneamento , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , População SuburbanaAssuntos
21003 , Humanos , Infecções por HTLV-I/imunologia , Strongyloides stercoralis/imunologia , Estrongiloidíase/imunologia , Adjuvantes Imunológicos , Anticorpos Anti-Helmínticos/análise , Antígenos de Helmintos/análise , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Anticorpos Antideltaretrovirus/análise , Infecções por Deltaretrovirus/complicações , Imunoglobulina A/análise , Imunoglobulina E , Imunoglobulina G/análiseRESUMO
The enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was used to investigate long term changes in serum immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG4, IgE, and IgA against Strongyloides stercoralis phosphate-buffered saline-soluble filariform larval antigens in eight Jamaican patients treated with ivermectin. Patients were followed for periods of between 170 and 542 days. Based on repeated formalin-ether concentration and agar plate culture, all patients were found to be uninfected up to 18 months following chemotherapy. Generally, all antibody isotype levels decreased following treatment, although there was considerable heterogeneity among patients. In a single patient with hyperinfection, the decrease in IgG4 was marginal and may represent a treatment failure. Reduction in serum antibody isotype responses to S. stercoralis following treatment may be used to assess the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating endemic strongyloides (AU)
Assuntos
21003 , Humanos , Anti-Helmínticos/uso terapêutico , Anticorpos Anti-Helmínticos/análise , Ivermectina/uso terapêutico , Strongyloides stercoralis/efeitos dos fármacos , Strongyloides stercoralis/imunologia , Estrongiloidíase/tratamento farmacológico , Estrongiloidíase/epidemiologia , Estrongiloidíase/imunologia , Imunoglobulina A/análise , Imunoglobulina E/análise , Imunoglobulina G/análise , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Infections with Strongyloides stercoralis are often refractory to thiabendazole therapy in certain patients. Ivermectin is being used increasingly for treatment of uncomplicated infections; however, possible immunopathological changes associated with drug-induced release of antigens as observed with use of the drug in filariasis has not been studied in strongyloidiasis. In this study we used the enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) technique to examine the profiles of S. stercoralis-specific IgG4, IgE and IgA against saline soluble filariform extracts in 8 patients treated for the parasite. All patients were found to be negative for the parasite by stool examination following treatment. Isotype levels fell in concert following treatment although there was considerable heterogeneity among patients. Levels remained low following treatment response but were still measurable for up to eighteen months post-treatment. There appeared to be no rapid release of parasite antigens following treatment. One patient exhibited a transient increase in levels of IgA after which there was a decline in this and all other isotypes. The single patient with proven chronic infection and a history of gastrointestinal symptoms exhibited almost ablated IgG1, IgE and IgA responses prior to treatment but had a significant IgG4 response which remained high following treatment. The reduction in antibody levels post-treatment may be used as confirmation of parasitological cure. The study showed that there was no rapid release of S. stercoralis antigens as seen in filarial infections and that Ivermectin is safe and effective against the parasite (AU)