LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completing this journal-based activity, physicians should be better able to: 1. Define the “hygiene hypothesis” of autoimmune diseases. 2. Understand the reasoning behind Trichuris suis ova (TSO) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. 3. Know the key findings of trials using TSO in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 4. Be aware of the potential risk...

Allergic diseases are rare in areas with high helminth parasite exposure and common where helminth exposure is lacking or significantly reduced, such as urban areas of developing countries and industrialized nations. Studies suggest that helminths induce a systemic immuno-modulatory network, including regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory IL-10, which might play a key role in the protection ...

Most studies evaluating epidemiologic relationships between helminths and HIV have been conducted in the pre-ART era, and evidence of the impact of helminth infections on HIV disease progression remains conflicting. Less is known about helminth infection and clinical outcomes in HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). We sampled HIV-infected adults for eight gastrointestinal...

Nine species of nematodes, unidentified larval nematodes, three species of trematodes, two species of acanthocephalans and a single species of chewing louse were collected from 1993 to 1995 from 25 introduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Florida (USA). In spite of a quarantine procedure involving anthelmintic therapy, three helminth parasites may have been introduced from captive populat...

The epidemiology of autoimmune diseases and helminth infections led to suggestions that helminths could improve inflammatory conditions, which was then tested using animal models. This has translated to clinical investigations aimed at the safe and controlled reintroduction of helminthic exposure to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases (so-called 'helminthic therapy') in an effort to mit...

BACKGROUND The control of helminth infections and prevention of anemia in developing countries are of considerable public health importance. The purpose of this study was to determine patterns and risk factors of helminth infections and anemia in a rural and a peri-urban community of Zanzibar, Tanzania, in the context of national helminth control programs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We ca...

khuzestan province in the south west of iran having several seasonal and permanent lagoons which are shelter for domestic and migratory birds including, fish-eating birds. this research study was carried out to find the intestinal helminth parasites of birds in this ecosystem and evaluation of their medically importance with emphasis on heterophyid trematodes. for these reasons, the total of 37...

in this survey 45 carnivores including 14 jackals, 23 stray dogs, 2 foxes, 2 domestic cats, 1 wild cat, 2 swine and 1 wolf were collected. on post-mortem examination, 84% carcases were infected and 13 zoonotic helminth species were recovered. dirofilaria immitis was the most commonly parasite and toxocara canis showed the highest intensity of infection. one species from swine and two helminth s...

Helminths and bacteria are major players in the mammalian gut ecosystem and each influences the host immune system and health. Declines in helminth prevalence and bacterial diversity appear to play a role in the dramatic rise of immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) in western populations. Helminths are potent modulators of immune system and their reintroduction is a promising therapeut...

A total of 6 helminth species were recorded during helminthological examination of 50 Chapalichthys encaustus from Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. Helminth species identified included: Salsuginus sp. (an undescribed monogenea); Posthodiplostomum minimum (metacercariae); Cyclustera ralli (metacestode); Polymorphus brevis (cystacanth); Contracaecum sp. (nematode larvae); and Rhabdochona lichtenfel...