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  1. Fulltext Intestinal parasitic infections amongst Orang Asli (indigenous) in Malaysia: has socioeconomic development alleviated the problem?
    Lim YA, Romano N, Colin N, Chow SC, Smith HV
    Trop Biomed, 2009 Aug;26(2):110-22.
    PMID: 19901897 MyJurnal
    Orang Asli are the indigenous minority peoples of peninsular Malaysia. Despite proactive socioeconomic development initiated by the Malaysian Government in upgrading the quality of life of the Orang Asli communities since 1978, they still remained poor with a current poverty rate of 76.9%. Poverty exacerbates the health problems faced by these communities which include malnourishment, high incidences of infectious diseases (eg. tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria) and the perpetual problem with intestinal parasitic infections. Studies reported that the mean infection rate of intestinal parasitic infections in Orang Asli communities has reduced from 91.1% in 1978, to 64.1% in the subsequent years. Although the results was encouraging, it has to be interpreted with caution because nearly 80% of studies carried out after 1978 still reported high prevalence (i.e. >50%) of soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) among Orang Asli communities. Prior to 1978, hookworm infection is the most predominant STH but today, trichuriasis is the most common STH infections. The risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections remained unchanged and studies conducted in recent years suggested that severe STH infections contributed to malnutrition, iron deficiency anaemia and low serum retinol in Orang Asli communities. In addition, STH may also contribute to poor cognitive functions and learning ability. Improvements in socioeconomic status in Malaysia have shown positive impact on the reduction of intestinal parasitic infections in other communities however, this positive impact is less significant in the Orang Asli communities. In view of this, a national parasitic infections baseline data on morbidity and mortality in the 18 subgroups of Orang Asli, will assist in identifying intervention programmes required by these communities. It is hope that the adoption of strategies highlighted in the World Health Organisation- Healthy Village Initiatives (WHO-HVI) into Orang Asli communities will ensure the whole mechanism of delivery and empowerment by the government agencies become more efficient and productive in alleviating intestinal parasitic infections in these communities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology; Nematode Infections/parasitology; Protozoan Infections/parasitology; Soil/parasitology
  2. Sarcocystis booliati n.sp. and a parasite of undetermined taxonomic position, Octoplasma garnhami n. gen. n. sp., from the moonrat, Echinosorex gymnurus
    Dissanaike AS, Poopalachelvam M
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1975 Jun;6(2):175-85.
    PMID: 809845
    Sarcocystis booliati n.sp. is described from the moonrat Echinosorex gymnurus (Mammalia, Insectivora) from West Malaysia. The cysts are very thin-walled, not visible to the naked eye, and have no trabeculae or cytophaneres. They are found in skeletal but not heart muscle. The zoites are small, 5-8 by 2-3 mum with a mean of 6.5 by 2.2 mum, in dry fixed smears. Octoplasma garnhami n.gen. n.sp., a parasite of undetermined taxonomic status but belonging to the Coccidiasina, Apicomplexa, is also described from the same host. Only schizononts and pseudocysts with typically 8 zoites, have so far been seen in monocytes of the spleen and liver. The zoites are large, 15 by 3 mum and have a distinct nucleolus even in dry-fixed smears.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/parasitology; Dog Diseases/parasitology; Insectivora/parasitology*; Muscular Diseases/parasitology
  3. Fulltext Henneguya (Cnidaria: Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infections of cultured barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Perciformes: Latidae) in an estuarine wetlands system of Malaysia: description of Henneguya setiuensis n. sp., Henneguya voronini n. sp. and Henneguya calcarifer n. sp
    Borkhanuddin MH, Cech G, Molnár K, Shaharom-Harrison F, Khoa TND, Samshuri MA, et al.
    Parasitol Res, 2020 Jan;119(1):85-96.
    PMID: 31768684 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06541-1
    Examination of 35 barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from aquaculture cages in Setiu Wetland, Malaysia, revealed a single fish infected with three Henneguya spp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea). Characterization of the infections using tissue tropism, myxospore morphology and morphometry and 18S rDNA sequencing supported description of three new species: Henneguya setiuensis n. sp., Henneguya voronini n. sp. and H. calcarifer n. sp. Myxospores of all three species had typical Henneguya morphology, with two polar capsules in the plane of the suture, an oval spore body, smooth valve cell surfaces, and two caudal appendages. Spores were morphometrically similar, and many dimensions overlapped, but H. voronini n. sp. had shorter caudal appendages compared with H. calcarifer n. sp. and H. setiuensis n. sp. Gross tissue tropism distinguished the muscle parasite H. calcarifer n. sp. from gill parasites H. setiuensis n. sp. and H. voronini n. sp.; and these latter two species were further separable by fine-scale location of developing plasmodia, which were intra-lamellar for H. setiuensis n. sp. and basal to the filaments for H. voronini n. sp. small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences distinguished all three species: the two gill species H. setiuensis n. sp. and H voronini n. sp. were only 88% similar (over 1708 bp), whereas the muscle species H. calcarifer n. sp. was most similar to H. voronini n. sp. (98% over 1696 bp). None of the three novel species was more than 90% similar to any known myxosporean sequence in GenBank. Low infection prevalence of these myxosporeans and lack of obvious tissue pathology from developing plasmodia suggested none of these parasites are currently a problem for barramundi culture in Setiu Wetland; however additional surveys of fish, particularly at different times of the year, would be informative for better risk assessment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fish Diseases/parasitology*; Gills/parasitology; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology*; Perciformes/parasitology*
  4. Fulltext Prevalence and risk factors of geohelminthiasis among the rural village children in Kota Marudu, Sabah, Malaysia
    Lim-Leroy A, Chua TH
    PLoS One, 2020;15(9):e0239680.
    PMID: 32986746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239680
    Geohelminthiasis is a worldwide problem, especially in low-income countries. Children from rural areas and those living in poverty, lacking basic health amenities and having poor environmental sanitation are likely to be affected. Adverse effects such as anemia, protein malnutrition, colitis are common which can affect both the children's physical and mental growing development. A cross-sectional study on geohelminthiasis was conducted among children from 238 households in 13 villages in Kota Marudu of northern Sabah, East Malaysia. The study involved interviewing villagers using questionnaires to collect demographic and socio-economic data, getting faecal samples from the children, collecting soil samples and identifying parasite eggs with microscopy and molecular methods. A total of 407 children (6 months-17 years old) enrolled in the study. Geohelminthiasis was detected in the faecal samples of children from 54% (7/13) of the villages with mean prevalence of infection per village of 9.0% (0%-34.9%). On a household basis, 18% (43/238) of the households sampled had infected children, with mean prevalence rate per household of 11% (0%-43%). The prevalence was for Ascaris lumbricoides: 9.6% (39/407), Trichuris trichiura: 2.7% (11/407) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma sp.): 2.7% (11/407). The overall mean infection rate of the children examined was 14.3%. Significantly higher prevalence was recorded for the children of mothers who did not have any formal education (p = 0.003); household income of less than USD119 (RM500) (p<0.001); children from homes without proper sanitation facilities (p<0.001); children who usually go about barefoot (p<0.001) and not washing feet before entering the house (p = 0.017). Soil samples were found to have geohelminth eggs or larvae which could be due to unhygienic sanitation practices. This study shows the geohelminthiasis is prevalent in the villages, and the risk factors are lack of maternal education, low income, poor sanitation facilities and irregular deworming practice. Expanding deworming coverage in the study region may help reduce the worm infections in these communities, so that the mental and physical development of the children would not be affected by geohelminthiasis. The data on the prevalence of geohelminthiasis in this study would contribute to better public health monitoring and operation to reduce the infection in rural areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ascariasis/parasitology; Feces/parasitology; Hookworm Infections/parasitology; Trichuriasis/parasitology
  5. Fulltext Hexaplex PCR detection system for identification of five human Plasmodium species with an internal control
    Chew CH, Lim YA, Lee PC, Mahmud R, Chua KH
    J Clin Microbiol, 2012 Dec;50(12):4012-9.
    PMID: 23035191 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.06454-11
    Malaria remains one of the major killers of humankind and persists to threaten the lives of more than one-third of the world's population. Given that human malaria can now be caused by five species of Plasmodium, i.e., Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and the recently included Plasmodium knowlesi, there is a critical need not only to augment global health efforts in malaria control but also, more importantly, to develop a rapid, accurate, species-sensitive/species-specific, and economically effective diagnostic method for malaria caused by these five species. Therefore, in the present study, a straightforward single-step hexaplex PCR system targeting five human Plasmodium 18S small-subunit rRNAs (ssu rRNAs) was designed, and the system successfully detected all five human malaria parasites. In addition, this system enables the differentiation of single infection as well as mixed infections up to the two-species level. This assay was validated with 50 randomly blinded test and 184 clinical samples suspected to indicate malaria. This hexaplex PCR system is not only an ideal alternative for routine malaria diagnosis in laboratories with conventional PCR machines but also adds value to diagnoses when there is a lack of an experienced microscopist or/and when the parasite morphology is confusing. Indeed, this system will definitely enhance the accuracy and accelerate the speed in the diagnosis of malaria, as well as improve the efficacy of malaria treatment and control, in addition to providing reliable data from epidemiological surveillance studies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/parasitology*; Parasitology/methods*; Parasitology/standards
  6. Imported eosinophilic fever with myositis: A diagnostic challenge
    Camprubí D, Rodriguez-Valero N, Losada I, Grau-Junyent JM, Muñoz J
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2018 05 23;24:16.
    PMID: 29802894 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.05.009
    Matched MeSH terms: Eosinophilia/parasitology; Fever/parasitology; Muscles/parasitology; Myositis/parasitology; Sarcocystosis/parasitology; Drinking Water/parasitology
  7. Fulltext Light microscopy and molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. in meat producing animals in Selangor, Malaysia
    Latif B, Kannan Kutty M, Muslim A, Hussaini J, Omar E, Heo CC, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2015 Sep;32(3):444-52.
    PMID: 26695204 MyJurnal
    One thousand and forty-five tissue samples of skeletal muscles, tongue, heart, diaphragm and esophagus were collected from 209 animals (43 sheep, 89 goats and 77 cattle) from an abattoir in Selangor between February and October, 2013. Each sample was divided into three pieces with each piece measuring 2-3 mm3. Each piece was then squeezed between two glass slides and examined microscopically at x 10 magnification for the presence of sarcocystosis. Three positive samples from each animal species were then fixed in 10% formalin for histological processing. Seven positive samples collected from each animal species were preserved at -80°C or 90% ethanol for gene expression studies. Microsarcocysts were detected in 114 (54.5%) animals by light microscopy (LM). The infection rates in sheep, goat and cattle were 86, 61.8 and 28.6% respectively. The highest rate of infection was in the skeletal muscles of sheep (64.9%) and goats (63.6%) and in the heart of cattle (63.6%). The cysts were spindle to oval in shape and two stages were recognized, the peripheral metrocytes and centrally located banana-shaped bradyzoites. 18S rRNA gene expression studies confirmed the isolates from the sheep as S. ovicanis, goats as S. capracanis and cattle as S. bovicanis. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first molecular identification of an isolate of S. ovicanis and S. capracanis in Malaysia. Further studies with electron microscopy (EM) are required in the future to compare the features of different types of Sarcocysts spp.
    Matched MeSH terms: Animal Structures/parasitology; Cattle Diseases/parasitology; Meat/parasitology; Sarcocystosis/parasitology; Sheep Diseases/parasitology; Goat Diseases/parasitology
  8. Transvitreal migration of a Toxocara larva resulting in a second chorioretinal granuloma
    Sivaratnam D, Subrayan V, Ali NA
    Jpn. J. Ophthalmol., 2008 Sep-Oct;52(5):416-417.
    PMID: 18991049 DOI: 10.1007/s10384-008-0569-z
    Matched MeSH terms: Granuloma/parasitology*; Retinal Diseases/parasitology*; Toxocariasis/parasitology*; Vitreous Body/parasitology*; Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology*; Choroid Diseases/parasitology*
  9. Isolation of Neospora caninum from a calf in Malaysia
    Cheah TS, Mattsson JG, Zaini M, Sani RA, Jakubek EB, Uggla A, et al.
    Vet Parasitol, 2004 Dec 15;126(3):263-9.
    PMID: 15567590
    In order to attempt isolate the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, an N. caninum seropositive pregnant Sahiwal Friesian cross heifer from a large-scale dairy farm in Malaysia was kept for observation until parturition at the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh. The heifer gave birth to a female calf that was weak, underweight and unable to rise. Precolostral serum from the calf had an N. caninum indirect fluorescent antibody test titre of 1:3200. It died 12 h after birth and necropsy was performed. Brain homogenate from the calf was inoculated into 10 BALB/c mice that were kept for 3 months after which brain tissue from the mice was inoculated onto 24 h fresh monolayer Vero cell lines. The cell cultures were examined daily until growth of intracellular protozoa was observed. DNA of the organisms from the cell cultures was analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. DNA fragments of the expected size were amplified from the isolate using N. caninum-specific primers, and sequence analysis of ITS1 clearly identified the isolate as N. caninum. This is the first successful isolation of N. caninum from a bovine in Malaysia, and the isolate is designated Nc-MalB1.
    Matched MeSH terms: Animals, Newborn/parasitology*; Cattle Diseases/parasitology*; Coccidiosis/parasitology; Colostrum/parasitology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/parasitology
  10. Fulltext Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks and fleas collected from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia
    Nguyen VL, Colella V, Greco G, Fang F, Nurcahyo W, Hadi UK, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2020 Aug 15;13(1):420.
    PMID: 32799914 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04288-8
    BACKGROUND: Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia.

    METHODS: A total of 392 ticks and 248 fleas were collected from 401 infested animals (i.e. 271 dogs and 130 cats) from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and molecularly screened for the presence of pathogens. Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. while fleas were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp.

    RESULT: Of the 392 ticks tested, 37 (9.4%) scored positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (5.4%), followed by Ehrlichia canis (1.8%), Babesia vogeli (1%), Anaplasma platys (0.8%) and Rickettsia spp. (1%) [including Rickettsia sp. (0.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (0.3%) and Rickettsia felis (0.3%)]. Out of 248 fleas tested, 106 (42.7%) were harboring at least one pathogen with R. felis being the most common (19.4%), followed by Bartonella spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (10.9%) and "Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis" (0.4%). Furthermore, 35 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, of which 34 ticks belonged to the tropical and only one belonged to the temperate lineage (Rh. sanguineus (sensu stricto)).

    CONCLUSION: Our data reveals the circulation of different VBPs in ticks and fleas of dogs and cats from Asia, including zoonotic agents, which may represent a potential risk to animal and human health.

    Matched MeSH terms: Arachnid Vectors/parasitology; Arthropod Vectors/parasitology; Cats/parasitology; Dogs/parasitology; Insect Vectors/parasitology
  11. Molecular detection and genetic diversity of Babesia gibsoni in dogs in Bangladesh
    Terao M, Akter S, Yasin MG, Nakao R, Kato H, Alam MZ, et al.
    Infect Genet Evol, 2015 Apr;31:53-60.
    PMID: 25620376 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.01.011
    Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne hemoprotozoan parasite of dogs that often causes fever and hemolytic illness. Detection of B. gibsoni has been predominantly reported in Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India. The present study shows the first molecular characterization of B. gibsoni detected from dogs in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected on FTA® Elute cards from 50 stray dogs in Mymensingh District in Bangladesh. DNA eluted from the cards was subjected to nested PCR for the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia species. Approximately 800bp PCR products were detected in 15 of 50 dogs (30%). Based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing of the PCR products, all parasite isolates were identified as B. gibsoni. Furthermore, the BgTRAP (B. gibsoni thrombospondin-related adhesive protein) gene fragments were detected in 13 of 15 18S rRNA gene PCR positive blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the BgTRAP gene revealed that B. gibsoni parasites in Bangladesh formed a cluster, which was genetically different from other Asian B. gibsoni isolates. In addition, tandem repeat analysis of the BgTRAP gene clearly showed considerable genetic variation among Bangladeshi isolates. These results suggested that B. gibsoni parasites in a different genetic clade are endemic in dogs in Bangladesh. Further studies are required to elucidate the origin, distribution, vector and pathogenesis of B. gibsoni parasites circulating in dogs in Bangladesh.
    Matched MeSH terms: Babesiosis/parasitology*; Dog Diseases/parasitology*
  12. Zoothamnium duplicatum infestation of cultured horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)
    Shinn AP, Mühlhölzl AP, Coates CJ, Metochis C, Freeman MA
    J Invertebr Pathol, 2015 Feb;125:81-6.
    PMID: 25499897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2014.12.002
    An outbreak of the sessile peritrich Zoothamnium duplicatum in a pilot, commercial-scale Limulus polyphemus hatchery resulted in the loss of ∼96% (40,000) second/third instar larvae over a 61day period. peritrich growth was heavy, leading to mechanical obstruction of the gills and physical damage. The peritrichs were controlled without resultant loss of juvenile crabs by administering 10ppm chlorine in freshwater for 1h and the addition of aquarium grade sand; a medium into which the crabs could burrow and facilitate cleaning of the carapace. Peritrich identity was confirmed from a partial SSU rDNA contiguous sequence of 1343bp (99.7% similarity to Z. duplicatum).
    Matched MeSH terms: Horseshoe Crabs/parasitology*; Larva/parasitology
  13. Fulltext Detection of sarcocystosis in goats in Malaysia by light microscopy, histology, and PCR
    Kutty MK, Latif B, Muslim A, Hussaini J, Daher AM, Heo CC, et al.
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2015 Apr;47(4):751-6.
    PMID: 25740651 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-015-0789-4
    A number of methods have been used for the detection of the presence of microsarcocysts in animals, but little information exists on the value between the various methods. This study therefore examined for Sarcocystis spp. using three different methods in 105 samples of skeletal muscle collected from goats slaughtered in an abattoir in Selangor, Malaysia from January to February 2014. Three methods were used, direct light microscopy of squashed fresh muscle tissues; histological examination of fixed, sectioned, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained samples of muscle; and molecular identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 105 tissue samples, 55 (52.38 %) were positive by light microscopy (LM), 46 (43.8 %) by histology, and 95 (90.48 %) by PCR. Only 29 (27.6 %) and 5 (4.76 %) samples were positive and negative, respectively, by all three methods. The cysts were elongated to a spindle shape with a mean size of 393.30 × 81.6 μm and containing banana-shaped bradyzoites of size 12.32 × 2.08 μm. The wall of the cyst was radially striated with a thickness of 2.83 μm. Samples were tested for the presence of Sarcocystis-specific 18S rRNA and were identified as Sarcocystis capracanis. Of the three methods used, the PCR test appears to be the most useful method for the diagnosis of sarcocystosis especially for species identification.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sarcocystosis/parasitology; Muscle, Skeletal/parasitology
  14. Fulltext Developing and evaluating health education learning package (HELP) to control soil-transmitted helminth infections among Orang Asli children in Malaysia
    Al-Delaimy AK, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Lim YA, Nasr NA, Sady H, Atroosh WM, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:416.
    PMID: 25179100 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-416
    This study was carried out to develop a health education learning package (HELP) about soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, and to evaluate what impact such a package could have in terms of reducing the incidence and intensity of STH infections among Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pahang, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feces/parasitology; Soil/parasitology*
  15. Fulltext Susceptibility of human Plasmodium knowlesi infections to anti-malarials
    Fatih FA, Staines HM, Siner A, Ahmed MA, Woon LC, Pasini EM, et al.
    Malar J, 2013;12:425.
    PMID: 24245918 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-425
    Evidence suggests that Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo remains zoonotic, meaning anti-malarial drug resistance is unlikely to have developed in the absence of drug selection pressure. Therefore, adequate response to available anti-malarial treatments is assumed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/parasitology*; Zoonoses/parasitology
  16. Fulltext Hyperparasitaemic human Plasmodium knowlesi infection with atypical morphology in peninsular Malaysia
    Lee WC, Chin PW, Lau YL, Chin LC, Fong MY, Yap CJ, et al.
    Malar J, 2013;12:88.
    PMID: 23496970 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-88
    Plasmodium knowlesi is a potentially life-threatening zoonotic malaria parasite due to its relatively short erythrocytic cycle. Microscopic identification of P. knowlesi is difficult, with "compacted parasite cytoplasm" being one of the important identifying keys. This report is about a case of hyperparasitaemic human P. knowlesi infection (27% parasitaemia) with atypical amoeboid morphology. A peninsular Malaysian was admitted to the hospital with malaria. He suffered anaemia and acute kidney function impairment. Microscopic examination, assisted by nested PCR and sequencing confirmed as P. knowlesi infection. With anti-malarial treatment and several medical interventions, patient survived and recovered. One-month medical follow-up was performed after recovery and no recrudescence was noted. This case report highlights the extreme hyperparasitaemic setting, the atypical morphology of P. knowlesi in the patient's erythrocytes, as well as the medical interventions involved in this successfully treated case.
    Matched MeSH terms: Malaria/parasitology*; Parasitemia/parasitology*
  17. Genetic diversity of caprine Blastocystis from Peninsular Malaysia
    Tan TC, Tan PC, Sharma R, Sugnaseelan S, Suresh KG
    Parasitol Res, 2013 Jan;112(1):85-9.
    PMID: 22961236 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3107-3
    Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal parasite found in humans and animals. The possibility of zoonotic transmission to humans from livestock especially goats led us to investigate the genetic diversity of caprine Blastocystis sp. obtained from five different farms in Peninsular Malaysia. Moreover, there is a lack of information on the prevalence as well as genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in goat worldwide. Results showed that 73/236 (30.9 %) of the goats were found to be positive for Blastocystis infection. The most predominant Blastocystis sp. subtype was ST1 (60.3 %) followed by ST7 (41.1 %), ST6 (41.1 %), and ST3 (11.0 %) when amplified by PCR using sequenced-tagged site (STS) primers. Four farms had goats infected only with ST1 whereas the fifth showed mixed infections with multiple STs. The proximity of the fifth farm to human dwellings, nearby domesticated animals and grass land as opposed to a sterile captive environment in the first four farms may account for the multiple STs seen in the fifth farm. Since ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST 7 were previously reported in human infection worldwide in particular Malaysia, the potential of the zoonotic transmission of blastocystosis should not be disregarded. The implications of different farm management systems on the distribution of Blastocystis sp. STs are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Goat Diseases/parasitology*; Blastocystis Infections/parasitology
  18. Fulltext Genetic dissection of sympatric populations of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), using DALP-PCR molecular markers
    Latif MA, Rafii MY, Mazid MS, Ali ME, Ahmed F, Omar MY, et al.
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2012;2012:586831.
    PMID: 22593700 DOI: 10.1100/2012/586831
    Direct amplified length polymorphism (DALP) combines the advantages of a high-resolution fingerprint method and also characterizing the genetic polymorphisms. This molecular method was also found to be useful in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens species complex for the analysis of genetic polymorphisms. A total of 11 populations of Nilaparvata spp. were collected from 6 locations from Malaysia. Two sympatric populations of brown planthopper, N. lugens, one from rice and the other from a weed grass (Leersia hexandra), were collected from each of five locations. N. bakeri was used as an out group. Three oligonucleotide primer pairs, DALP231/DALPR'5, DALP234/DALPR'5, and DALP235/DALPR'5 were applied in this study. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram based on genetic distances for the 11 populations of Nilaparvata spp. revealed that populations belonging to the same species and the same host type clustered together irrespective of their geographical localities of capture. The populations of N. lugens formed into two distinct clusters, one was insects with high esterase activities usually captured from rice and the other was with low esterase activities usually captured from L. hexandra. N. bakeri, an out group, was the most isolated group. Analyses of principal components, molecular variance, and robustness also supported greatly to the findings of cluster analysis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Poaceae/parasitology; Oryza/parasitology
  19. Phenotypic 'variant' forms of Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites from cervical neoplasia patients
    Yusof AM, Kumar S
    Exp Parasitol, 2012 Jul;131(3):267-73.
    PMID: 22525014 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.03.015
    The protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis a sexually transmitted protozoan parasite causes vaginitis, urethritis and cervicitis in humans. The present study highlights phenotypic 'variant' forms of trophozoites isolated from patients suffering from cervical neoplasia condition. The growth curve of 10 isolates i.e., four non-cervical neoplasia (NCN) isolates (NCN1-NCN4) and six cervical neoplasia (CN) isolates (CN1-CN6) showed two distinct and different in vitro growth profiles. The parasite count and growth rates were significantly higher in trophozoites from CN isolates in cultures of day 2 up to day 8 (p<0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The average generation time was 1.84±0.40 and 3.38±0.55h for NCN and CN isolates respectively. The nucleus of trophozoites in CN isolates using acridine orange and DAPI showed more intense staining revealing higher nuclear content. The FITC-labeled Concanavalin A stained stronger green fluorescence with surface of trophozoites in CN isolates showing more rough and creased surface with numerous deep micropores. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that there was higher numbers of vacuoles and hydrogenosomes in these forms. The study mounted staining techniques, growth profiles, morphology, morphometry studies using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and confirms that the trophozoites from cervical neoplasia proliferates at a higher rate, shows higher FITC-labeled Concanavalin A binding with rough and creased surface implying that these are virulent forms which can aggravate or exacerbate cervical neoplasia conditions. The large numbers of hyrogenosomes and vacuoles implies that these forms are active and implicates a possible role in such conditions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/parasitology*; Trichomonas Vaginitis/parasitology*
  20. Drinking water is a significant predictor of Blastocystis infection among rural Malaysian primary schoolchildren
    Abdulsalam AM, Ithoi I, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Ahmed A, Surin J, Mak JW
    Parasitology, 2012 Jul;139(8):1014-20.
    PMID: 22444778 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182012000340
    Blastocystis infection has a worldwide distribution especially among the disadvantaged population and immunocompromised subjects. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the association of Blastocystis infection with the socio-economic characteristics among 300 primary schoolchildren, living in rural communities in Lipis and Raub districts of Pahang state, Malaysia. Stool samples were collected and examined for the presence of Blastocystis using direct smear microscopy after in vitro cultivation in Jones' medium. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis infection was found to be as high as 25.7%. The prevalence was significantly higher among children with gastrointestinal symptoms as compared to asymptomatic children (x2 =4.246; P=0.039). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that absence of a piped water supply (OR=3.13; 95% CI=1.78, 5.46; P<0.001) and low levels of mothers' education (OR=3.41; 95% CI=1.62, 7.18; P<0.01) were the significant predictors of Blastocystis infection. In conclusion, Blastocystis is prevalent among rural children and the important factors that determine the infection were the sources of drinking water and mothers' educational level. Interventions with provision of clean water supply and health education especially to mothers are required.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feces/parasitology; Drinking Water/parasitology*
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