Parasitic Diseases Commons^™

Towards The Synthesis Of Dragonamide E And Analogs Thereof, Dante Glover

Chemistry Theses

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a parasite spread through the female sand fly. It is categorized as a Neglected Tropical Disease and can cause very severe symptoms, even death, if left untreated. Symptoms include skin lesions that can cause permanent scarring, and mucosal membrane infections that can cause facial deformities. More aggressive forms of leishmaniasis can lead to infections of internal organs like the liver and/or spleen and can lead to death. Drug resistance of these parasites has rendered treatment limited and the side effects of which can be harmful as well.

Scientists looking towards new treatments for tropical …

Using Fecal Diagnostic Tests To Assess The Prevalence Of Fasciola Hepatica In The United States Sheep Population, Brooke A. Delcambre

LSU Master's Theses

Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, is endemic in the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Coast of the United States. To provide updated information on F. hepatica prevalence, as part of the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System Sheep 2024 study, sheep operations in the top 30 sheep-producing states were identified, and producers were invited to participate. For each operation, feces were collected from at least eight sheep and pooled to form a single composite sample. Two methods were used to identify sheep infected with F. hepatica: fecal sedimentation and indirect sandwich ELISA. At the national level, across 318 operations, 7.1 …

Risk Factors Of Leptospirosis Among Agricultural Workers In Southeast Asia: Literature Review, Ronggo Adi Wibowo, Wawa Najwa Nurzakia, Meirany Sasitha Kirana, Yulia Arthemisia Wijaya, Jasmine Ayumaharani Sekaryudha, Dwi Sarwani Sri Rejeki, Rosita Dwi Jayanti

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

The agricultural sector is the primary source of livelihood for communities in Southeast Asia; however, these activities increase the risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases, particularly leptospirosis. Southeast Asia is one of the regions with the highest incidence of leptospirosis in the world. This literature review aims to identify risk factors for leptospirosis among agricultural workers in Southeast Asia. The search for research articles utilized three databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect) using a descriptive approach based on literature review and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 9,800 articles were screened for …

Comparative Antiscabies Efficacy Of Sonneratia Alba Extracts: Evaluation Of Plant Parts And Concentrations In Mice, Delima Engga Maretha, Lara Mukti Taresha, Karina Yuliana, Iis Ariska, Silvia Diah Lestari

Makara Journal of Science

This study evaluated the antiscabies efficacy of 70% ethanol extracts from various parts of the mangrove Sonneratia alba (leaves, flowers, bark, and roots) as a potential alternative therapy. The primary objective was to compare the healing effects of the extracts at different concentrations on scabies lesions in mice (Mus musculus). Using a completely randomized design, 24 male Swiss Webster mice were assigned to four groups: a control (K0) group and three treatment groups to receive 10% (K1), 20% (K2), and 30% (K3) extract concentrations topically twice daily. The results demonstrated that the S. alba extracts had significant effects …

Repurposing Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors For The Discovery Of Novel Antiplasmodial Compounds, Ritam Bhowmik

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Malaria remains a major global health burden with over 282 million cases annually and rising resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies. Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite species in humans, relies on tightly regulated cell cycle progression during replication within red blood cells. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are central regulators of eukaryotic cell division and transcription, and several CDK-like enzymes in P. falciparum, including Pfmrk and PfPK6, are essential for parasite growth and structurally distinct from human kinases. This study evaluated whether commercially available human CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) targeting cancer pathways could be repurposed as novel antimalarial compounds. A library of …

Early Intervention In Helminth Infections: Investigating Albendazole’S Effects On C. Elegans Egg Hatch Rate And Health, Giselle Domingo Diaz

Student Scholar Symposium

Over 1.5 billion of the poorest people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) such as whipworm, hookworm, and Ascaris which have devastating effects on human growth, nutrition, and cognition, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. The World Health Organization only approves four anthelmintic drugs to treat STH for mass drug administration (MDA), with Albendazole being the drug of choice. Due to these drugs only having two mechanisms of action, resistance to these drugs has been reported over the years. We aim to better understand STH susceptibility to drugs at multiple points in their life stage. Previously, the effects of Albendazole and …

Host, Microbiome, And Parasite: How Apicomplexan Microorganisms Interact With Gut Microbiota, Senia Bu, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It functions in immune system regulation, digestion, and protection against pathogens. Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., are major pathogens that can significantly disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. This review explores the bidirectional interactions between Apicomplexan parasites and the gut microbiome, focusing on how these parasites influence microbial diversity, immune responses, and host metabolism. It examines the mechanisms by which infection-induced inflammation, altered …

Spatially Resolved Transcriptomic Profiles Of Placental Cell Populations In Placental Malaria, Corina A. Mong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Malaria remains a prevalent infectious disease that continues to cause disease-related morbidity and mortality. Despite preventative efforts, malarial pregnancies still cause birth complications, therefore emphasizing the necessity to study these adverse outcomes in malarial pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy can lead to placental malaria (PM), which is the presence and accumulation of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells in the placental intervillous space (IVS). Even after treatment, past PM (presence of hemozoin crystals from the parasite in the placenta) can cause a chronic inflammatory response. We predicted that the activation states of the maternal monocytes and fetal macrophages differ within the placenta and …

Targeting Detoxifying Enzymes In The Lymphatic Filariasis Vector: An In Silico Study On Curcumin, Camphor, And Menthol, Rizal Subahar, Rawina Winita, Surya Dwira, Gulshan Fahmi El Bayani

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Vector control remains a critical component in the prevention of lymphatic filariasis, a disease transmitted by insect vectors. Natural compounds such as curcumin, camphor, and menthol are being explored for their bio-insecticidal properties due to their potential to inhibit key detoxification and neurological enzymes in insects, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 oxidases (CYP450). A molecular docking study using SwissDock was conducted to evaluate the interaction of curcumin, camphor, and menthol with AChE, GST, and CYP450 enzymes. Binding affinity (ΔG), hydrogen bonding, and active site interactions were analyzed to assess the inhibitory potential of each compound. Curcumin …

Tickborne Colpodella Species Infections: Time For A New Integrated Approach To Understand Transmission And Pathogenicity, T. Y. Sam-Yellowe, Trinity Nims, Sona Qaderi, Mary M. Asraf

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Colpodella species are free-living predatory protists that prey on algae, ciliates and bodonids using myzocytosis. Colpodella species have been reported in human and animal infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 18S rRNA genes of Cryptosporidium and piroplasms have identified Colpodella species in arthropods, host blood and feces, demonstrating the phylogenetic closeness of Colpodella species to the apicomplexa. However, in human, animal and arthropod hosts, the life cycle stages of Colpodella are unknown. In this literature review, we provide an overview of the widespread occurrence of Colpodella species in ticks, and pathogenicity in humans and animals. We discuss methods …

Biomarkers That Could Explain Parasite-Induced Behavioral Alterations In The Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) – Posthodiplostomum System, Laura D. Nicolas

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Trophically transmitted parasites require an intermediate host to be consumed and often manipulate host phenotype (i.e., morphology, physiology, and/or behavior) to increase predation risk by definitive hosts. Posthodiplostomum is a trematode with a complex life cycle involving snails as first hosts, fish as second intermediate hosts, and piscivorous birds as definitive hosts. In fish hosts, Posthodiplostomum infection has been linked to increased predation, suggesting suppression of antipredator behaviors. However, the specific physiological pathways remained unexplored and changes in the host’s neural, endocrine, and immune systems could be involved. Thus, I examined whether Posthodiplostomum infection intensity was associated with brain serotonin …

A Review On Treatment, Prevention, And Research Of Worldwide Parasitic Disease: Toxoplasmosis, Hannah Skinner

All Theses

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide, yet often overlooked, parasitic disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is capable of infecting humans and almost all warm-blooded vertebrates. Over a million people are infected in the United States with toxoplasmosis each year. Most infections are asymptomatic but severe cases can lead to vision impairment, neurological disorders, and congenital birth defects. T. gondii is transmitted through undercooked meat, infected feline feces, or contaminated water and soil. The burden of T. gondii infection is most notable in livestock, felines, and immunocompromised humans. Despite being a widespread disease, toxoplasmosis is neglected in …

The Role Of Myosin L In The Survival Of Toxoplasma Gondii And The Importance Of Mlc1 For In Vitro And In Vivo Myosin F Motility, Victoria K. Yi

Honors Scholar Theses

My thesis discusses the work that I have conducted on two myosins in Toxoplasma gondii, which is an obligate intracellular parasite that has chronically infected around 10% of the American population. It causes toxoplasmosis and severe health consequences for individuals with compromised immune systems or when infections occur in utero. However, immunocompetent individuals are asymptomatic or present with subclinical symptoms. In the Heaslip lab, I investigated two myosins in the parasite: Myosin L and Myosin F. MyoL is an uncharacterized motor that localizes at the apical end of the parasite. It was shown to be important for parasite …

Thymosin Beta-4: A Novel Treatment For Acanthamoeba Keratitis, Victoria A. Murphey

All Theses

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a severe corneal infection caused by the free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba. Both stages of its life cycle (trophozoite and cyst) cause infection, primarily in contact lens wearers. It is often misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment and poor clinical outcomes. Current treatment options for AK rely on anti-amoebic agents that are toxic to corneal epithelial cells. Further, no single drug can eliminate both forms of the amoeba. Approximately 30% of all AK infections require a corneal transplant.

Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is a G-actin binding protein synthesized in almost all human cells, including corneal epithelial cells. Tβ4 exhibits …

18s Metabarcode Analyses Of Eukaryotic Species In The Respiratory Microbiomes Of Wild Canids From New Hampshire, Collin Sinclair Blake

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study is of an exploratory nature and focuses on characterizing the eukaryotic microbiota present in the respiratory tissues of six wild canids and one domestic canine. The contents of this document largely pertain to dry lab analyses of 18S barcodes in bioinformatics programs – primarily QIIME2 running in the GitBash command line, service for which was hosted by the UNH Ron Bioinformatics training server. All procedures listed within the section below were performed by second parties at the UNH Hubbard Center for Genomics Studies (HCGS), the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostics Lab (NHVDL), and the UNH Microbial Ecology and Emerging …

Rwanda's Natural Remedies: A Fresh Look At The Fight Against Malaria, Leandre Nsabimana Ndisanze

Pomona Senior Theses

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan Africa, where Rwanda continues to face high transmission rates and rising resistance to conventional interventions. Despite decades of control efforts, the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes threatens to reverse recent gains. This research responds to the urgent need for sustainable and culturally relevant alternatives by exploring the therapeutic potential of Rwandan traditional medicinal plants. These indigenous remedies, long used by local healers, offer an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds that may provide the basis for novel antimalarial drugs.

The central hypothesis of this …

Schistosoma Mansoni Infection Causes Consistent Changes To The Fecal Bacterial Microbiota Of Mice Across And Within Sites, Mariam A. Mhanna, David T. Gauthier, Lisa M. Shollenberger

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni are produced by adult female worms in mesenteries of infected hosts. Eggs can cross the intestinal barrier and form granulomas in the tissue or breach and exit the host through fecal excretion. These interactions may affect the host microbiome assemblages. Given the potential for schistosomal alteration of host gut microbiome and subsequent effects on the fecal bacterial composition, it is important to conduct controlled microbiome studies on model animals. While pursuing these studies, it is important to take into account the different conditions in which microbiome studies are conducted and their consequent impacts on variability and …

Lupin Root Diseases - Diagnosis And Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Root, hypocotyl and stem base diseases can be significant problems in lupin crops, reducing stand density, plant vigour and yield. Root disease is present in nearly all narrow leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) paddocks but in the majority of paddocks has only a small impact on crop development. However, in paddocks where high levels of root rot occurs, plant establishment, seedling vigour and crop yield can be significantly affected.

When a root disease is present in a crop very little can be done to manage it in that cropping season. It is therefore vital that the cause is correctly identified to …

Micro Life, David Burton

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Painting is what I do to slow my brain and relax my body after a busy day at the hospital. Nothing puts me directly into a flow state like slowly moving acrylic paint across a canvas. This piece titled “Micro Life” depicts the diversity of life constantly surrounding us at the microbiological level everywhere we go. As a strong believer in nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, I know how important our microbiome is to healthy digestion and a properly functioning immune system. On the other side, I have witnessed the devastating effects dangerous microorganisms can have on our already compromised …

Net Form Net Blotch And Its Management In Barley, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Net form net blotch is a fungal disease that can reduce yield and grain quality of barley crops. It can vary in appearance depending on the pathogen, variety of barley, and stage of infection. This factsheet describes the symptoms, and how this disease is managed.

The Role Of Southern Red-Backed Voles, Myodes Gapperi, And Peromyscus Mice In The Enzootic Maintenance Of Lyme Disease Spirochetes In North Dakota, Usa, Michael W. Dougherty, Nathan M. Russart, Robert A. Gaultney, Emily Marie Gisi, Haley M. Cooper, Lindsey R. Kallis, Catherine A. Brissette, Jefferson A. Vaughan

Biology Faculty Publications

Lyme disease has expanded into the Great Plains of the USA. To investigate local enzootic transmission, small mammals were trapped in two forested tracts in northeastern North Dakota during 2012 and 2013. Peromyscus mice and southern red-backed voles, Myodes gapperi, comprised over 90% of all mammals captured. One site was dominated by Peromyscus (79% of 100 mammals captured). At the other site, M. gapperi (59% of 107 mammals captured) was more abundant than Peromyscus (36%). Immature stages of two tick species parasitized small mammals: Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis. Larval I. scapularis ectoparasitism was significantly higher on Peromyscus (81% …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Master Bibliography, Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Master bibliography for the open educational resource/open access textbook Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner and Sue Ann Gardner, editors, published by Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2024. This includes the references from literature cited and suggested supplemental reading.

One Year Follow Up Of A Cross-Sectional Study Of Hookworm Infection And Response To Deworming In Beposo, Ghana, Taylor Clarkson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Hookworms are soil-transmitted helminths that infect over 500 million people worldwide, primarily those in low-income countries. Infection with hookworm can cause anemia, malnutrition, and stunted physical and cognitive development. Deworming campaigns have attempted to combat hookworm infections in endemic areas for decades. However, there is growing variability in the effectiveness of deworming drugs, and post-treatment reinfections are abundant. There are significant gaps in our understanding of critical host-parasite factors that mediate hookworm infection, reinfection, and response to deworming treatment in endemic communities. A five-year prospective study was undertaken to better understand drivers of hookworm infection in rural Ghana and thus …

Discovery Of Strong 3-Nitro-2-Phenyl-2h-Chromene Analogues As Antitrypanosomal Agents And Inhibitors Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Glucokinase, Shane M. Carey, Destiny M. O’Neill, Garrett B. Conner, Julian Sherman, Ana Rodriguez, Edward L. D'Antonio

Natural Sciences Faculty Publications

Chagas disease is one of the world’s neglected tropical diseases, caused by the human pathogenic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. There is currently a lack of effective and tolerable clinically available therapeutics to treat this life-threatening illness and the discovery of modern alternative options is an urgent matter. T. cruzi glucokinase (TcGlcK) is a potential drug target because its product, D-glucose-6-phosphate, serves as a key metabolite in the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In 2019, we identified a novel cluster of TcGlcK inhibitors that also exhibited anti-T. cruzi efficacy called the 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2H-chromene analogues. This was achieved by performing a target-based …

Short-Term Larval Surveys Reveal Rainy Season Breeding Site Preferences Of Malaria Vector Anopheles Spp. In Zanzibar City, Kaeden K. Hill

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Malaria is a serious illness that causes over 500,000 deaths annually worldwide, with Tanzania alone contributing to approximately 4% of those deaths. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites, and it is vectored by mosquitoes in the Anopheles genus. In Zanzibar City, the incidence of malaria has decreased over the past few decades due to standardized treatment protocols and public health interventions targeting adult mosquitoes. However, the incidence remains between 1-2%, with an increasing trend observed over the past few years likely stemming from continued exchange of Plasmodium spp. from other malaria-endemic areas. Because larvicidal strategies can be useful in …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 61: Transversotrematidae Witenberg, 1944 (Family): Ectoparasitic Trematodes [Platyhelminthes], Scott C. Cutmore, Thomas H. Cribb

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the family Transversotrematidae Witemberg, 1944, a small but biologically significant group of plagiorchiid digenean trematodes (flukes), including discussion of identification, general morphology, life cycles, host range, and the significance of their evolutionary position and biology.

Chapter 61 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Scott C. Cutmore and Thomas H. Cribb. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap061

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 62: Hirudinea (Subclass): Parasitic Leeches, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa, Sebastian Kvist

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the parasitic leeches, subclass Hirudinea, including discussion of leeches as parasites, vectors, and hosts, their general morphology, reproduction, zoogeography, classification, phylogeny, medical uses, and preparation of specimens.

Chapter 62 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa and Sebastian Kvist. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap062

High Prevalence Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) And Associated Risk To Humans In Central Illinois, Esther Onuselogu

Masters Theses

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease and a growing health threat in the United States. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas and serve as reservoir hosts for T. cruzi. While T. cruzi is rare in humans and domestic animals in the U.S., it is common in wildlife species, particularly raccoons and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the raccoon population of Central Illinois and evaluate the risk of transmission to humans. …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 39: Haplosplanchnata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Two Hosts With Half The Guts [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Daniel C. Huston

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the suborder Haplosplanchnata Olson et al., 2003, a small, but distinct lineage within the Plagiorchiida. Includes a discussion of the methods of identification, general morphological characteristics, taxonomy, and life cycles.

Chapter 39 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Daniel C. Huston. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap039

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 47: Summary Of The Digenea (Subclass): Insights And Lessons From A Prominent Parasitologist [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea], Robin M. Overstreet

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the digenean trematodes (subclass Digenea) including insights and lessons from a prominent parasitologist, Robin M. Overstreet. Includes discussion of general morphology, biology, preparation methods, phylogeny, classification, life cycles, host-digenean relationships, effects on host behavior, hyperparasitism, ecology, digeneans as indicators, and literature on the digeneans.

Chapter 47 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Robin M. Overstreet. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap047