The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing in Western countries, possibly due to the improved sanitary conditions and reduced exposure to infections in childhood (the hygiene hypothesis). There is an ongoing debate whether infection prevents or precipitates autoimmune diseases. Various helminths species used in several animal models were shown to limit inflammatory activity in a variety...

Throughout evolution, both helminths and bacteria have inhabited our intestines. As intestinal helminths and bacteria inhabit the same environmental niche, it is likely that these organisms interact with, and impact on, each other. In addition, intestinal helminths are well known to alter intestinal physiology, permeability, mucous secretion and the production of antimicrobial peptides - all of...

An investigation of helminths in the Norway (brown) rat, Rattus norvegicus, and roof rat, Rattus rattus, from Chiang Mai Moat during May to August 1995, was done. Thirty-three out of thirty-eight trapped rats were infected (86.84%); 16 R. norvegicus (100%) and 17/22 R. rattus (77.27%). The rat was infected with 10 helminth species: 4 trematodes, Centrocestus sp (2.63%), Echinostoma ilocanum (10...

Despite of the remarkable success of RNA interference (RNAi) application in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the exploitation of this powerful technique to helminths parasites with complex life-cycle has been a challenge for parasitologists. It has proved to be effective only for certain parasite species and specific target genes. To date, RNAi is the only methodology available ...

A parasitological survey in northern Lao PDR showed a remote ethnic minority village to be hyper-endemic for Taenia solium, a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that impacts human and pig health. An intervention combining human Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with porcine vaccination and antihelmintic treatment was then implemented, targeting both T. solium and other soil-transmitted helminths. To...

AIM Gastrointestinal (GI) helminth parasitism is one of the major constraints for profitable sheep production. Due to variations in the prevalence of GI helminths from region to region, it becomes important to map out accurately the parasitic fauna of a particular region for development of suitable control measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS An extensive study of GI helminths was carried out in B...

The helminth fauna of the small field mouse (Apodemus microps Kratochvil and Rosicky, 1952) and the common vole (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) was studied in a pine forest at Babat (County Pest). A total of 9 parasitic helminths were recovered from the small field mouse, which is reported for the first time as a new host of Anoplocephaloides dentata, Hymenolepis fraterna, Hymenolepis diminuta ...

This study investigated the gastrointestinal parasitism by helminths and protozoa in sheep (Ovis aries) Santa Inês breed, municipality of Lajes, Rio Grande do Norte. Monthly, from April 2005 to August 2007, stool samples were collected from two tracer lambs in the first day of the experiment and performed a necropsy of these animals in 44th day. A total of 64 lambs were sampled, but only 62 lam...

Helminth parasites are of considerable medical and economic importance. Studies of the immune response against helminths are of great interest in understanding interactions between the host immune system and parasites. Effector immune mechanisms against tissue-dwelling helminths and helminths localized in the lumen of organs, and their regulation, are reviewed. Helminth infections are character...