1,721,140 research outputs found
Helminth parasitic infections of the central nervous system: a diagnostic approach.
No full textHelminth parasitic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) occur worldwide with high prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries. Clinical evaluation of patients is mandatory, and it is convenient to group the clinical manifestations into syndromes: for example space-occupying lesions, meningitis, and encephalitis. The history should focus on residence or travel to endemic areas, diet, activities, intercurrent medical conditions, and associated clinical clues. Direct parasitological diagnosis can be reached by cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral tissue examination either by microscopy, culture, or immunological techniques. Immunodiagnosis by detection of parasite antibodies or antigens in serum could provide indirect evidence of parasitic infections. In addition, various imaging and radiological techniques e.g., computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) complement the diagnostic work-up of CNS diseases. Finally, the helminthic CNS infections of global impact, such as schistosomiasis, neurotoxocariasis, Strongyloides infection, neurotrichinosis, neurocysticercosis, and echinococcosis will be briefly discussed as regards the principal clinical and diagnostic features
Angiostrongyliasis: A Changing Scenario?
No full textAngiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease caused by larvae of the genus Angiostrongylus, with Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus costaricensis being the two main species causing diseases in humans [...
Matrix Metalloproteinases in Parasitic Infections
No full textMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a wide family of more than 20
distinct endopeptidases, either secreted or membrane-bound. They are involved
in many physiological (embryogenesis, precursor or stem cell mobilization,
tissue remodeling during wound healing, etc.) as well as pathological
(inflammation, tumor progression and metastasis in cancer, vascular pathology,
etc.) situations. These proteinases have been considered in the past exclusively
for their degradation ability of molecules of extracellular matrix (ECM) (e.g.,
collagen, laminin, fibronectin) as well as that to release hidden epitopes from the
ECM. In more recent years, it has been completely clarified that these enzymes
are also involved in the immune response, acting on cytokines, hormones, and
chemokines. Among many others, the so-called gelatinases, MMP-2, and
MMP-9 are produced by neutrophils, macrophages, and monocytes. When
infection is associated with leukocyte influx into specific organs, immunopathology
and following tissue damage may occur, facilitated by gelatinases. The
focus of this chapter will be on the participation of MMPs and in particular of
gelatinases in either protozoan or helminth infections. A well-studied model is
represented by cerebral malaria, for example, where MMPs play a crucial role in
the pathogenesis of such disease. Also trypanosomosis and toxoplasmosis will
be considered for protozoan infections, as well as neurocysticercosis,
angiostrongyloidosis and trichinellosis, for helminth infections
- …
