During the summer seasons of two consequent years (2013–2014), 80 faecal samples from dogs in stray shelters of two Bulgarian districts (Sofia, n=40 and Pleven, n=40) were examined for infection with gastrointestinal parasites. The flotation-centrifugation method using ZnCl2 solution was used for parasitological examination of the samples. Thirty-three blood samples from dogs in one stray shelt...

Hookworm infection is associated with anaemia and malnutrition in many resource-limited countries. Ancylostoma hookworms have previously been shown to modulate host cellular immune responses through multiple mechanisms, including reduced mitogen-mediated lymphocyte proliferation, impaired antigen presentation/processing, and relative reductions in CD4(+) T cells in the spleen and mesenteric lym...

Helminth infection is a major health problem of children from rural areas of developing countries and it is an important cause of morbidity in school age children especially primary school pupils (4 to 15 years) who harbor the highest intensity of worm infestation [1,2]. Five species are responsible for widespread disease in humans and these include Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, ho...

Prevalence of infection with the intestinal helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale and Strongyloides stercoralis was examined in 632 residents of communities in Esmeraldas Province of Ecuador. These communities were divided into two groups according to area of habitation which reflected different socioeconomic circumstances. Attempts were made to correlate i...

Pre-school age children account for 10%-20% of the 2 billion people worldwide who are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs): Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), Trichuris trichiura (whipworm), and Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus (hookworms). Through a systematic review of the published literature and using information collated at World Health Organization headquarters, this pap...

Accurate diagnosis of infection with the parasite Strongyloides stercoralis is hampered by the low concentration of larvae in stool, rendering parasitological diagnosis insensitive. Even if the more sensitive agar plate culture method is used repeated stool sampling is necessary to achieve satisfactory sensitivity. In this manuscript we describe the development of a coproantigen ELISA for diagn...

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are intestinal parasitic nematodes that infect humans, and are transmitted through contaminated soil. These nematodes include the large roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworm (Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Ancylostoma duodenale, and Necator americanus). Nearly 1.5 billion people (~24% of the population) worldwide are infected w...

Few studies have been conducted in Italy to quantify the potential risk associated with dynamics and distribution of pathogens in urban settings. The aim of this study was to acquire data on the environmental faecal contamination in urban ecosystems, by assessing the presence of pathogens in public areas in the city of Bari (Apulia region, Italy). To determine the degree of environmental contam...

Bacillus thuringiensis crystal (Cry) proteins are the most widely used biological insecticides in the world. Their value in safely controlling insects that destroy crops and transmit human diseases is well established.Here, we reviewB. thuringiensisCry proteins as novel anthelmintics with a unique mode of action. In laboratory studies, Cry proteins are highly effective against a broad range of ...