Ascaris lumbricoides is a nematode parasite that causes the common tropical infection ascariasis in humans. It is also considered among the neglected tropical diseases. Diagnosis relies mainly on microscopy-based methods which are laborious, are limited by low sensitivity, and require high expertise. We have developed a loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for diagnosis of ascariasis i...

We have tried to find out why Ascaris hemoglobin has such an exceptionally high oxygen affinity (P50 approximately 0.004 mmHg; 1 mmHg = 133 Pa). Following Kloek et al., we have synthesized the N-terminal globin domain of Ascaris hemoglobin in Escherichia coli [Kloek, A. P., Yang, J., Mathews, F. S. & Goldberg, D. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 17669-17671]. Like Kloek et al., we found its oxygen af...

Roundworms (Ascaridida: Nematoda), one of the most common soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), can cause ascariasis in various hosts worldwide, ranging from wild to domestic animals and humans. Despite the veterinary and health importance of the Ascaridida species, little or no attention has been paid to roundworms infecting wild animals including non-human primates due to the current taxon sampl...

BACKGROUND Most childhood asthma in poor populations in Latin America is not associated with aeroallergen sensitization, an observation that could be explained by the attenuation of atopy by chronic helminth infections or effects of age. OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of geohelminth infections and age on atopy, wheeze, and the association between atopy and wheeze. METHODS A case-control s...

The effects of calcium channel blockers, nifedipine and verapamil (i.v. and aerosol), were investigated in beagle dogs natively allergic to Ascaris suum antigen. Control exposures to an aerosol of Ascaris antigen provoked significant bronchopulmonary changes, i.e., increases in pulmonary resistance (RL) and decreases in dynamic lung compliance (CDYN). Pretreatment with either nifedipine or vera...

Ascaris lumbricoides infestation is endemic in tropical countries. Most infections by A. lumbricoides are asymptomatic, but they can produce a wide spectrum of manifestations including hepatobiliary and pancreatic complications. Pancreatic ascariasis is a rare entity. In a study of 500 patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease due to A. lumbricoides infection, only seven had pancreatic...

Patterns of infection and prevalence result from complex interactions between hosts and parasites, the effects of which are likely to vary by species. We investigated the effects of age, sex and season on the likelihood of individual infection, and the effects of host population size, sex ratio and age structure on parasite prevalence. We capitalized on data from a long-term study of yellow-bel...

BACKGROUND Intestinal helminthiasis is common in our environment and antihelminthic drugs are specie specific. Thus, need to identify and characterize the species cannot be overemphasized. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of Ascaris Lumbricoides in Enugu Metropolis. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 361 subjects in Enugu metropolis was carried out in this study. A single stool sample...