DOCSLIB.ORG

Blastocystis: Diagnostechs™ Clinical & Research Laboratory a Question of Pathogenicity Quarterly Newsletter Carrie C

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Blastocystis: Diagnostechs™ Clinical & Research Laboratory a Question of Pathogenicity Quarterly Newsletter Carrie C ChronoBiology LETTER Spring 2014 — 17th Edition Blastocystis: DiagnosTechs™ Clinical & Research Laboratory A Question of Pathogenicity Quarterly Newsletter Carrie C. McMillin, ND Articles in this edition 1 Blastocystis: A Question of Pathogenicity With our growing knowledge of the existence of various genotypes may be 3 Diagnos-Techs Introduces— intricacies of the gut microbiome, we the reason for conflicting data,1-3 as it Matthew Stoner, PhD are often faced with difficult questions is possible that only some isotypes are Scott Buesing, ND regarding the clinical implications of pathogenic.4 In addition, it is difficult 4 The Therapy Corner: The Anxiety- Depression Spectrum this knowledge. Recent improvements to differentiate among Blastocystis in diagnostic methods allow us to more isotypes based on morphology. As a accurately identify which microbes result, some studies have employed are present; however, as clinicians the use of polymerase chain reaction we need to make the decision to (PCR) testing to distinguish between treat or not to treat—a decision various genotypes. In one of the most that is not always extensive studies straightforward. conducted, it was Many organisms are found that among Join Diagnos-Techs in not clearly classified these genotypes, Chicago for Digestive as pathogenic or Blastocystis can be nonpathogenic, grouped into seven Disease Week! resulting in distinct subtypes,5,6 confusion around although some May 4-6 their clinical sources propose McCormick Place significance. more. It has also One such group been shown that Chicago, IL of organisms transmission can that has been occur between Booth #3516 widely disputed Blastocystis cysts. www.cdc.gov/dpdx animals and is Blastocystis humans, illustrating Register at www.ddw.org spp. There has been considerable that animals can serve as a large discussion regarding its status as a potential reservoir for human true pathogen and the legitimacy of infections.1 a disease (blastocystosis) caused by Need assistance with this organism. A review of current Historically, there has also been much test interpretation? literature, however, shows that debate regarding the taxonomic accumulating evidence strongly classification of Blastocystis. Since We’re here to help! suggests that Blastocystis is a its discovery, it has been classified potentially pathogenic organism. as the cyst of a flagellate, vegetable, Call to set up an appointment yeast, and fungus, only recently with a member of our There are several confounding having been reclassified as a protist. medical support team. factors that make it difficult to clearly Today Blastocystis is included as a categorize Blastocystis. First of all, stramenopile, a class of botanical 1-800-878-3787 humans are host to many different protists such as brown algae that genotypes of Blastocystis. The possess flagella with mastigonemes Continued on page 2. ChronoBiology LETTER Blastocystis Interestingly, several surveys fecal leukocytes,28 and cutaneous continued from front cover. have reported that Blastocystis rashes (with urticaria being most (hair-like structures projecting was more frequently isolated in notable).29 In general, Blastocystis is from the flagellum). Blastocystis, immunocompetent individuals non-invasive,30 with extraintestinal however, is nonmotile and does suffering from intestinal disorders infections being a rare occurrence not possess flagella. A new class for than similar patients without GI and only then when mediated 19-23 Blastocystis was therefore created— symptoms. Another survey by another pathogen. It has also Blastocystea.1,7 pointed out an increased prevalence been noted that mixed infections of Blastocystis isolation in atopic with Blastocystis and Entamoeba As mentioned earlier, the various patients.24 histolytica are not uncommon.31 Blastocystis subtypes can be There is accumulating evidence of transmitted between animals and More recent research has focused an association between Blastocystis humans in addition to human-human on investigating whether the biology and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). transmission. This makes it difficult to and pathogenicity of Blastocystis is Specifically, some studies have assign Blastocystis species according related to genotype. Unfortunately, shown an increased prevalence to the host of origin. In fact, this no conclusive data has been found. of Blastocystis in patients with IBS may be one reason for conflicting It has, however, been suggested that compared to IBS-negative patients reports regarding cell variations subtype 1 is associated with disease, with GI symptoms.32,33 It is not yet and pathogenesis in the past. It while subtypes 2 and 3 appear to clear whether Blastocystis can be 1 has been noted in epidemiological be nonpathogenic, although more considered an etiological agent of IBS studies that subtype 3 is the most research is needed. or IBS simply creates an environment frequently isolated. As such, it is in which Blastocystis can thrive.34 widely believed that this is the most likely genotype of human origin, There is As with many other organisms, formerly designated as B. hominis.8-11 accumulating clinical outcomes of the presence of Because humans can be infected Blastocystis vary considerably based by numerous Blastocystis subtypes, evidence of an on numerous factors, making it is and the various subtypes are difficult to predict its pathogenic indistinguishable from each other via association between potential. Some studies have shown microscopy, it is now recommended Blastocystis and that treatment with metronidazole,35 that laboratories report the presence nitazoxanide,36 and trimethoprim- of Blastocystis spp. instead of irritable bowel sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)37 Blastocystis hominis. (Note: This is a has resulted in eradication of the syndrome (IBS). change that you will soon see in the organism and resolution of GI Diagnos-Techs microscopy reports.) symptoms. However, these drugs Blastocystis-associated illness is are all broad-spectrum antibiotics; Although it can be found most commonly associated with therefore, it is difficult to ascertain worldwide,12,13 Blastocystis has a abdominal pain and acute or chronic if clinical cure was instead the result higher prevalence rate in developing diarrhea, although it has also of treatment and eradication of a countries. This has been linked been linked to nausea, vomiting, separate and unidentified pathogenic 1,25 to poor hygiene, contaminated bloating, flatulence, and anorexia. organism. food and water consumption, and Diagnosis is made by microscopic exposure to animals.14 Recent stool examination (O&P testing), Some herbs that have been found studies point to the classification ideally conducted on fecal samples to reduce or inhibit growth of 26 of Blastocystis as pathogenic or from three separate days. There Blastocystis spp. include Coptis opportunistic, concluding that it is some evidence that the acute GI chinensis, Brucea javanica, may be associated with a variety of presentations are associated with Punica granatum, Picrorhiza disorders. It has also been suggested an increased infection density, most scrophulariiflora, and Allium that immunocompromised patients commonly greater than five parasites sativum.38-42 In one study, children 1,16,19 are at greater risk for Blastocystis- per high power field. Other signs treated with Saccharomyces 27 associated disorders.1,15-18 and symptoms include eosinophilia, cerevisiae had a higher cure rate than 2 © 2014 Diagnos-Techs, Inc. All rights reserved. Spring 2014 — 17th Edition Diagnos-Techs Introduces— those receiving metronidazole.43 It has also been suggested that a high fiber, low lactose diet may be an important component to a Matthew Stoner, PhD Director of Research and Blastocystis treatment plan. Excellence. Additionally, while at the Development Despite considerable gaps in our University of Rhode Island, he lectured understanding of this organism, Dr. Stoner in the areas of endocrinology and it is worth noting that there are completed his PhD laboratory techniques in molecular no studies to date that prove in Toxicology at biology and trained and mentored unequivocally that Blastocystis Texas A&M junior scientists. Most recently, Dr. is nonpathogenic, and there is University, where he Stoner was Senior Research Scientist at accumulating evidence around its studied estrogen CertiChem, Inc., where he optimized pathogenic potential. Treatment receptor-modulated sensitive bioassays for the detection of should be considered for both gene expression in breast cancer and endocrine-active chemicals that leach acute and chronic cases in the presence of associated symptoms, endometrial cancer. He subsequently from consumer products. He has more appropriate clinical context, and completed postdoctoral training in than 20 peer-reviewed publications in the absence of other causative Molecular Toxicology at the Pennsylvania journals that cover diverse areas of cell pathologies. State University. Dr. Stoner then was and molecular biology and toxicology. appointed Research Assistant Professor As the Director of Research and For references, please see Newsletter section of website (www.diagnostechs. in the College of Pharmacy at the Development at Diagnos-Techs, Dr. com). University of Rhode Island, where he Stoner investigates and incorporates established a research laboratory into production new technologies and supported by the Rhode Island IDeA methodologies to expand our clinical Network of Biomedical Research diagnostic test offerings.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Are Blastocystis Species Clinically Relevant to Humans?
    Are Blastocystis species clinically relevant to humans? Robyn Anne Nagel MB, BS, FRACP A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland in 2015 School of Veterinary Science Title page Culture of human faecal specimen Blastocystis organisms, vacuolated and granular forms, Photographed RAN: x40 magnification, polarised light ii Abstract Blastocystis spp. are the most common enteric parasites found in human stool and yet, the life cycle of the organism is unknown and the clinical relevance uncertain. Robust cysts transmit infection, and many animals carry the parasite. Infection in humans has been linked to Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although Blastocystis carriage is much higher in IBS patients, studies have not been able to confirm Blastocystis spp. are the direct cause of symptoms. Moreover, eradication is often unsuccessful. A number of approaches were utilised in order to investigate the clinical relevance of Blastocystis spp. in human IBS patients. Deconvolutional microscopy with time-lapse imaging and fluorescent spectroscopy of xenic cultures of Blastocystis spp. from IBS patients and healthy individuals was performed. Green autofluorescence (GAF), most prominently in the 557/576 emission spectra, was observed in the vacuolated, granular, amoebic and cystic Blastocystis forms. This first report of GAF in Blastocystis showed that a Blastocystis-specific fluorescein-conjugated antibody could be partially distinguished from GAF. Surface pores of 1m in diameter were observed cyclically opening and closing over 24 hours and may have nutritional or motility functions. Vacuolated forms, extruded a viscous material slowly over 12 hours, a process likely involving osmoregulation. Tear- shaped granules were observed exiting from the surface of an amoebic form but their identity and function could not be elucidated.
    [Show full text]
  • Blastocystis Hominis Transmission by Non-Potable Water: a Case Report In
    NEW MICROBIOLOGICA, 41, 2, 173-177, 2018, ISN 1121-7138 CASE REPORT Blastocystis hominis transmission by non-potable water: a case report in Italy Maria Cristina Angelici, Chiara Nardis, Riccardo Scarpelli, Paola Ade Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy SUMMARY In the reported case, a 41-year-old Italian man came to the clinician’s observation reporting cramps, bloat- ing and watery diarrhoea a few days after drinking water indicated as unpotable from a fountain in a farm area. The medical suspicion was directed at both gluten intolerance and enteric infection, eventually of waterborne origin. Gluten intolerance was investigated by intestinal biopsy and excluded, while stool analyses ruled out infective bacteriological or viral agents and parasites. Subsequently, a persistent eo- sinophilia was revealed and a parasitological analysis was again suggested, planning for a more sensitive molecular method. Therefore, a multiplex-PCR of enteric protozoa species DNA was performed on an intestinal biopsy and faecal samples revealing only Blastocystis hominis protozoa, subsequently typed as subtype 1 by RFLP-PCR method. B. hominis is an anaerobic protozoa found in the human and animal intestinal tract, recently associated with a pathogenic role characterized by chronic development. Since blastocystosis has been demonstrated as a waterborne infection, a sample of water matrix was analysed, revealing the B. hominis subtype 1 DNA inside. A probable water transmission of Blastocystis infection has been demonstrated in this case report. Only a probiotic treatment based on Saccharomyces boulardii was administered to the patient and this apparently resolved the infection. In summary, the case described here is a chronic blastocystosis of possible waterborne origin, controlled by assuming a yeast treatment.
    [Show full text]
  • Eukaryotes Blastocystis Species and Other Microbial Cluster Assembly
    Evolution of the Cytosolic Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Machinery in Blastocystis Species and Other Microbial Eukaryotes Anastasios D. Tsaousis, Eleni Gentekaki, Laura Eme, Daniel Gaston and Andrew J. Roger Eukaryotic Cell 2014, 13(1):143. DOI: 10.1128/EC.00158-13. Published Ahead of Print 15 November 2013. Downloaded from Updated information and services can be found at: http://ec.asm.org/content/13/1/143 http://ec.asm.org/ These include: SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL Supplemental material REFERENCES This article cites 50 articles, 28 of which can be accessed free at: http://ec.asm.org/content/13/1/143#ref-list-1 on February 24, 2014 by Dalhousie University CONTENT ALERTS Receive: RSS Feeds, eTOCs, free email alerts (when new articles cite this article), more» Information about commercial reprint orders: http://journals.asm.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml To subscribe to to another ASM Journal go to: http://journals.asm.org/site/subscriptions/ Evolution of the Cytosolic Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Machinery in Blastocystis Species and Other Microbial Eukaryotes Anastasios D. Tsaousis,a,b Eleni Gentekaki,a Laura Eme,a Daniel Gaston,a Andrew J. Rogera ‹Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canadaa; Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdomb The cytosolic iron/sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) machinery is responsible for the assembly of cytosolic and nuclear iron/sulfur clusters, cofactors that are vital for all living cells. This machinery is uniquely found in eukaryotes and consists of at least eight Downloaded from proteins in opisthokont lineages, such as animals and fungi.
    [Show full text]
  • Ectocarpus: an Evo‑Devo Model for the Brown Algae Susana M
    Coelho et al. EvoDevo (2020) 11:19 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13227-020-00164-9 EvoDevo REVIEW Open Access Ectocarpus: an evo-devo model for the brown algae Susana M. Coelho1* , Akira F. Peters2, Dieter Müller3 and J. Mark Cock1 Abstract Ectocarpus is a genus of flamentous, marine brown algae. Brown algae belong to the stramenopiles, a large super- group of organisms that are only distantly related to animals, land plants and fungi. Brown algae are also one of only a small number of eukaryotic lineages that have evolved complex multicellularity. For many years, little information was available concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying multicellular development in the brown algae, but this situation has changed with the emergence of Ectocarpus as a model brown alga. Here we summarise some of the main questions that are being addressed and areas of study using Ectocarpus as a model organism and discuss how the genomic information, genetic tools and molecular approaches available for this organism are being employed to explore developmental questions in an evolutionary context. Keywords: Ectocarpus, Life-cycle, Sex determination, Gametophyte, Sporophyte, Brown algae, Marine, Complex multicellularity, Phaeoviruses Natural habitat and life cycle Ectocarpus is a cosmopolitan genus, occurring world- Ectocarpus is a genus of small, flamentous, multicellu- wide in temperate and subtropical regions, and has been lar, marine brown algae within the order Ectocarpales. collected on all continents except Antarctica [1]. It is pre- Brown algae belong to the stramenopiles (or Heter- sent mainly on rocky shores where it grows on abiotic okonta) (Fig. 1a), a large eukaryotic supergroup that (rocks, pebbles, dead shells) and biotic (other algae, sea- is only distantly related to animals, plants and fungi.
    [Show full text]
  • A Distinct Lineage of Giant Viruses Brings a Rhodopsin Photosystem to Unicellular Marine Predators
    A distinct lineage of giant viruses brings a rhodopsin photosystem to unicellular marine predators David M. Needhama,1, Susumu Yoshizawab,1, Toshiaki Hosakac,1, Camille Poiriera,d, Chang Jae Choia,d, Elisabeth Hehenbergera,d, Nicholas A. T. Irwine, Susanne Wilkena,2, Cheuk-Man Yunga,d, Charles Bachya,3, Rika Kuriharaf, Yu Nakajimab, Keiichi Kojimaf, Tomomi Kimura-Someyac, Guy Leonardg, Rex R. Malmstromh, Daniel R. Mendei, Daniel K. Olsoni, Yuki Sudof, Sebastian Sudeka, Thomas A. Richardsg, Edward F. DeLongi, Patrick J. Keelinge, Alyson E. Santoroj, Mikako Shirouzuc, Wataru Iwasakib,k,4, and Alexandra Z. Wordena,d,4 aMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039; bAtmosphere & Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8564, Japan; cLaboratory for Protein Functional & Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; dOcean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, 24105 Kiel, Germany; eDepartment of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; fGraduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan; gLiving Systems Institute, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4SB, United Kingdom; hDepartment of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598; iDaniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822; jDepartment of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106; and kDepartment of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan Edited by W. Ford Doolittle, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, and approved August 8, 2019 (received for review May 27, 2019) Giant viruses are remarkable for their large genomes, often rivaling genomes that range up to 2.4 Mb (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Controlled Sampling of Ribosomally Active Protistan Diversity in Sediment-Surface Layers Identifies Putative Players in the Marine Carbon Sink
    The ISME Journal (2020) 14:984–998 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-019-0581-y ARTICLE Controlled sampling of ribosomally active protistan diversity in sediment-surface layers identifies putative players in the marine carbon sink 1,2 1 1 3 3 Raquel Rodríguez-Martínez ● Guy Leonard ● David S. Milner ● Sebastian Sudek ● Mike Conway ● 1 1 4,5 6 7 Karen Moore ● Theresa Hudson ● Frédéric Mahé ● Patrick J. Keeling ● Alyson E. Santoro ● 3,8 1,9 Alexandra Z. Worden ● Thomas A. Richards Received: 6 October 2019 / Revised: 4 December 2019 / Accepted: 17 December 2019 / Published online: 9 January 2020 © The Author(s) 2020. This article is published with open access Abstract Marine sediments are one of the largest carbon reservoir on Earth, yet the microbial communities, especially the eukaryotes, that drive these ecosystems are poorly characterised. Here, we report implementation of a sampling system that enables injection of reagents into sediments at depth, allowing for preservation of RNA in situ. Using the RNA templates recovered, we investigate the ‘ribosomally active’ eukaryotic diversity present in sediments close to the water/sediment interface. We 1234567890();,: 1234567890();,: demonstrate that in situ preservation leads to recovery of a significantly altered community profile. Using SSU rRNA amplicon sequencing, we investigated the community structure in these environments, demonstrating a wide diversity and high relative abundance of stramenopiles and alveolates, specifically: Bacillariophyta (diatoms), labyrinthulomycetes and ciliates. The identification of abundant diatom rRNA molecules is consistent with microscopy-based studies, but demonstrates that these algae can also be exported to the sediment as active cells as opposed to dead forms.
    [Show full text]
  • Blastocystosis in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms: a Case
    Cekin et al. BMC Gastroenterology 2012, 12:122 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/12/1/122 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Blastocystosis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms: a case–control study Ayhan Hilmi Cekin1*, Yesim Cekin2, Yesim Adakan3, Ezel Tasdemir3, Fatma Gulsun Koclar4 and Basak Oguz Yolcular5 Abstract Background: Blastocystosis is a frequent bowel disease. We planned to to evaluate the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in patients who applied to the same internal medicine-gastroenterology clinic with or without gastrointestinal complaints to reveal the association of this parasite with diagnosed IBS and IBD. Methods: A total of 2334 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms composed the study group, which included 335 patients with diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease and 877 with irritable bowel syndrome. Patients without any gastrointestinal symptoms or disease (n = 192) composed the control group. Parasite presence was investigated by applying native-Lugol and formol ethyl acetate concentration to stool specimens, and trichrome staining method in suspicious cases. Results: Blastocystis spp. was detected in 134 patients (5.74%) in the study group and 6 (3.12%) in the control group (p = 0.128). In the study group, Blastocystis spp. was detected at frequencies of 8.7% in ulcerative colitis (24/276), 6.78% in Crohn’s disease (4/59), 5.82% in irritable bowel syndrome (51/877), and 4.9% in the remaining patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (55/1122). Blastocystis spp. was detected at a statistically significant ratio in the inflammatory bowel disease (odds ratio [OR] = 2.824; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.149-6.944; p = 0.019) and ulcerative colitis (OR = 2.952; 95% CI: 1.183-7.367; p = 0.016) patients within this group compared to controls.
    [Show full text]
  • Awareness Regarding Blastocystosis Disease
    AWARENESS REGARDING BLASTOCYSTOSIS DISEASE; A NEGLECTED ZOONOTIC DISEASE SAFILA NAVEED1* NIMRA WAHEED1 AND SIDRA GHAYAS1,2 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Jinnah University for women, Karachi, Pakistan, 2University of Karachi, Email: [email protected] Received -01-06-14; Reviewed and accepted -15-06-14 ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate awareness regarding blastocystosis, its cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Blastocystis hominis is a microscopic parasite found in the stools of healthy people as well as in the stools of those who have diarrhea, abdominal pain or other GI gastrointestinal problems. Infection which is caused by blastocystosis is called blastocystosis. Method: The survey is conducted which is based on questionnaire, in which students of pharm D and microbiologist were questioned regarding blastocystosis disease. Results: At t-test reveal a statistically reliable difference between the mean number of awareness percentage that the microbiologist has (M=4.12, s=1.995) and that the pharmacist has (M=2.76,s=2.42),t(94)=3.084 ,p=1.66, ,∞=0.05. Conclusions: From this survey we found that awareness regarding blastocystosis disease microbiologist have more awareness than pharmacist about blastocystosis. Keyword: Blastocystosis, Awareness, Microbiologist, Pharmacist INTRODUCTION Blastocystis hominis is a microscopic Zoonotic parasite it found in length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of PCR-amplified small- stools of healthy people as well as in those who have diarrhea, subunit (SSU) rRNA Techniques currently in use include abdominal pain or any other GIT gastrointestinal problems. molecular detection, microscopy and xenic in vitro culture test. Infection with blastocystis hominis is called blastocystosis. Different subtypes of blastocystis may be more likely to cause Direct smear, formaline-ethyl acetate sedimentation symptomatic infection when combined with other types of concentration, stool culture, kinyon carbol-fuchin stain, enzyme infection.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasitic Organisms Chart
    Parasitic organisms: Pathogen (P), Potential pathogen (PP), Non-pathogen (NP) Parasitic Organisms NEMATODESNematodes – roundworms – ROUNDWORMS Organism Description Epidemiology/Transmission Pathogenicity Symptoms Ancylostoma -Necator Hookworms Found in tropical and subtropical Necator can only be transmitted through penetration of the Some are asymptomatic, though a heavy burden is climates, as well as in areas where skin, whereas Ancylostoma can be transmitted through the associated with anemia, fever, diarrhea, nausea, Ancylostoma duodenale Soil-transmitted sanitation and hygiene are poor.1 skin and orally. vomiting, rash, and abdominal pain.2 nematodes Necator americanus Infection occurs when individuals come Necator attaches to the intestinal mucosa and feeds on host During the invasion stages, local skin irritation, elevated into contact with soil containing fecal mucosa and blood.2 ridges due to tunneling, and rash lesions are seen.3 matter of infected hosts.2 (P) Ancylostoma eggs pass from the host’s stool to soil. Larvae Ancylostoma and Necator are associated with iron can penetrate the skin, enter the lymphatics, and migrate to deficiency anemia.1,2 heart and lungs.3 Ascaris lumbricoides Soil-transmitted Common in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Ascaris eggs attach to the small intestinal mucosa. Larvae Most patients are asymptomatic or have only mild nematode America, Asia, and the Western Pacific. In migrate via the portal circulation into the pulmonary circuit, abdominal discomfort, nausea, dyspepsia, or loss of non-endemic areas, infection occurs in to the alveoli, causing a pneumonitis-like illness. They are appetite. Most common human immigrants and travelers. coughed up and enter back into the GI tract, causing worm infection obstructive symptoms.5 Complications include obstruction, appendicitis, right It is associated with poor personal upper quadrant pain, and biliary colic.4 (P) hygiene, crowding, poor sanitation, and places where human feces are used as Intestinal ascariasis can mimic intestinal obstruction, fertilizer.
    [Show full text]
  • Horizontal Gene Transfer Facilitated the Evolution of Plant Parasitic Mechanisms in the Oomycetes
    Horizontal gene transfer facilitated the evolution of plant parasitic mechanisms in the oomycetes Thomas A. Richardsa,b,1, Darren M. Soanesa, Meredith D. M. Jonesa,b, Olga Vasievac, Guy Leonarda,b, Konrad Paszkiewicza, Peter G. Fosterb, Neil Hallc, and Nicholas J. Talbota aBiosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom; bDepartment of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; and cSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom Edited by W. Ford Doolittle, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, and approved July 27, 2011 (received for review March 31, 2011) Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) can radically alter the genomes of ramorum, for example, whereas the Irish potato famine of the microorganisms, providing the capacity to adapt to new lifestyles, 19th century was caused by the late blight parasite Phytophthora environments, and hosts. However, the extent of HGT between infestans. Important crop diseases caused by fungi include the eukaryotes is unclear. Using whole-genome, gene-by-gene phylo- devastating rice blast disease caused by M. oryzae and the rusts, genetic analysis we demonstrate an extensive pattern of cross- smuts, and mildews that affect wheat, barley, and maize. In this kingdom HGT between fungi and oomycetes. Comparative study we report that HGT between fungi and oomycetes has genomics, including the de novo genome sequence of Hyphochy- occurred to a far greater degree than hitherto recognized (19). trium catenoides, a free-living sister of the oomycetes, shows that Our previous analysis suggested four strongly supported cases of these transfers largely converge within the radiation of oomycetes HGT, but by using a whole-genome, gene-by-gene phylogenetic that colonize plant tissues.
    [Show full text]
  • INFECTIOUS DISEASES of HAITI Free
    INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF HAITI Free. Promotional use only - not for resale. Infectious Diseases of Haiti - 2010 edition Infectious Diseases of Haiti - 2010 edition Copyright © 2010 by GIDEON Informatics, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by GIDEON Informatics, Inc, Los Angeles, California, USA. www.gideononline.com Cover design by GIDEON Informatics, Inc No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Contact GIDEON Informatics at [email protected]. ISBN-13: 978-1-61755-090-4 ISBN-10: 1-61755-090-6 Visit http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/ for the up to date list of GIDEON ebooks. DISCLAIMER: Publisher assumes no liability to patients with respect to the actions of physicians, health care facilities and other users, and is not responsible for any injury, death or damage resulting from the use, misuse or interpretation of information obtained through this book. Therapeutic options listed are limited to published studies and reviews. Therapy should not be undertaken without a thorough assessment of the indications, contraindications and side effects of any prospective drug or intervention. Furthermore, the data for the book are largely derived from incidence and prevalence statistics whose accuracy will vary widely for individual diseases and countries. Changes in endemicity, incidence, and drugs of choice may occur. The list of drugs, infectious diseases and even country names will vary with time. © 2010 GIDEON Informatics, Inc. www.gideononline.com All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 314 Free. Promotional use only - not for resale. Infectious Diseases of Haiti - 2010 edition Introduction: The GIDEON e-book series Infectious Diseases of Haiti is one in a series of GIDEON ebooks which summarize the status of individual infectious diseases, in every country of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Seven Gene Phylogeny of Heterokonts
    ARTICLE IN PRESS Protist, Vol. 160, 191—204, May 2009 http://www.elsevier.de/protis Published online date 9 February 2009 ORIGINAL PAPER Seven Gene Phylogeny of Heterokonts Ingvild Riisberga,d,1, Russell J.S. Orrb,d,1, Ragnhild Klugeb,c,2, Kamran Shalchian-Tabrizid, Holly A. Bowerse, Vishwanath Patilb,c, Bente Edvardsena,d, and Kjetill S. Jakobsenb,d,3 aMarine Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway bCentre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES),Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway cDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432, A˚ s, Norway dMicrobial Evolution Research Group (MERG), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway eCenter of Marine Biotechnology, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA Submitted May 23, 2008; Accepted November 15, 2008 Monitoring Editor: Mitchell L. Sogin Nucleotide ssu and lsu rDNA sequences of all major lineages of autotrophic (Ochrophyta) and heterotrophic (Bigyra and Pseudofungi) heterokonts were combined with amino acid sequences from four protein-coding genes (actin, b-tubulin, cox1 and hsp90) in a multigene approach for resolving the relationship between heterokont lineages. Applying these multigene data in Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses improved the heterokont tree compared to previous rDNA analyses by placing all plastid-lacking heterotrophic heterokonts sister to Ochrophyta with robust support, and divided the heterotrophic heterokonts into the previously recognized phyla, Bigyra and Pseudofungi. Our trees identified the heterotrophic heterokonts Bicosoecida, Blastocystis and Labyrinthulida (Bigyra) as the earliest diverging lineages.
    [Show full text]