OBJECTIVES: Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent protozoan parasite in human populations. This parasite is thought to be primarily transmitted through undercooked meat and contamination by cat feces. Here, we seek to determine if Toxoplasma gondii cysts can be found within human semen. METHODS: We used a mixture of histological and immunofluorescence stains to visualize Toxoplasma gondii cysts in thin smears of human semen. Further, we probed for presence of bradyzoite-specific mRNA transcription using in-situ hybridization. RESULTS: We visualized Toxoplasma gondii cysts in ejaculates of immune-competent and latently infected human volunteers. We confirmed the encystment by probing transcription of a bradyzoite-specific gene in these structures. These observations extend previous observations of the parasite in semen of several non-human host species, including rats, dogs, and sheep. CONCLUSIONS: Toxoplasma gondii infection is a clinically significant infection, in view of its high prevalence, its purported role in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, as well as in the more serious form of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our demonstration of intact Toxoplasma gondii cysts in the ejaculate supports the possibility of sexual transmission of the parasite and provides an impetus for further investigations.
- MeSH
- feces MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ovce MeSH
- psi MeSH
- sexuální chování MeSH
- sperma parazitologie MeSH
- Toxoplasma * genetika MeSH
- toxoplazmóza * parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- psi MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Studies on the pathogenesis and immune responses of Cryptosporidium infection and development of drugs and vaccines use mostly immunocompromised mouse models. In this study, we establish an immunocompetent mouse model of cryptosporidiosis with high intensity and long duration of infection. METHODS: We have obtained a Cryptosporidium tyzzeri isolate from laboratory mice, and infect adult C57BL/6 J mice experimentally with the isolate for determinations of infectivity, infection patterns, pathological changes, and transcriptomic responses. RESULTS: The isolate has an ID50 of 5.2 oocysts, with oocyst shedding lasting at high levels for >2 months. The oocyst shedding is boosted by immunosuppression of animals and suppressed by paromomycin treatment. The isolate induces strong inflammatory and acquired immune responses, but down-regulates the expression of α-defensins in epithelium. Comparative genomics analysis has revealed significant sequence differences from other isolates in subtelomeric genes. The down-regulation of the expression of α-defensins may be responsible for the high-intensity and long-lasting infection in this animal model. CONCLUSIONS: The immunocompetent mouse model of cryptosporidiosis developed has the advantages of high oocyst shedding intensity and long oocyst shedding duration. It provides an effective mechanism for the propagation of Cryptosporidium, evaluations of potential therapeutics, and studies of pathogen biology and immune responses.
- MeSH
- alfa-defensiny * MeSH
- Cryptosporidium parvum * MeSH
- Cryptosporidium * fyziologie MeSH
- feces MeSH
- kryptosporidióza * patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- oocysty MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVES: We present here data on Gram-negative rods bacteremia (GNRB) rates, risk factors and associated mortality. METHODS: Data on GNRB episodes were prospectively collected in 65 allo-/67 auto-HSCT centers in 24 countries (Europe, Asia, Australia). In patients with and without GNRB, we compared: demography, underlying disease, HSCT-related data, center` fluoroquinolone prophylaxis (FQP) policy and accreditation status, and involvement of infection control team (ICT). RESULTS: The GNRB cumulative incidence among 2818 allo-HSCT was: pre-engraftment (pre-eng-allo-HSCT), 8.4 (95% CI 7-9%), post-engraftment (post-eng-allo-HSCT), 5.8% (95%CI: 5-7%); among 3152 auto-HSCT, pre-eng-auto-HSCT, 6.6% (95%CI: 6-7%), post-eng-auto-HSCT, 0.7% (95%CI: 0.4-1.1%). GNRB, especially MDR, was associated with increased mortality. Multivariate analysis revealed the following GNRB risk factors: (a) pre-eng-allo-HSCT: south-eastern Europe center location, underlying diseases not at complete remission, and cord blood source; (b) post-eng-allo-HSCT: center location not in northwestern Europe; underlying non-malignant disease, not providing FQP and never accredited. (c) pre-eng-auto-HSCT: older age, autoimmune and malignant (vs. plasma cell) disease, and ICT absence. CONCLUSIONS: Benefit of FQP should be explored in prospective studies. Increased GNRB risk in auto-HSCT patients transplanted for autoimmune diseases is worrying. Infection control and being accredited are possibly protective against bacteremia. GNRB are associated with increased mortality.
- MeSH
- bakteriemie * epidemiologie MeSH
- homologní transplantace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- transplantace hematopoetických kmenových buněk * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Asie MeSH
- Austrálie MeSH
- Evropa MeSH
- východní Evropa MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Emerging invasive fungal infections (IFI) have become a notable challenge. Apart from the more frequently described fusariosis, lomentosporiosis, mucormycosis, scedosporiosis, and certain dematiaceae or yeasts, little is known about extremely rare IFI. METHODS: Extremely rare IFI collected in the FungiScopeⓇ registry were grouped as Dematiaceae, Hypocreales, Saccharomycetales, Eurotiales, Dermatomycetes, Agaricales, and Mucorales. RESULTS: Between 2003 and June 2019, 186 extremely rare IFI were documented in FungiScopeⓇ. Dematiaceae (35.5%), Hypocreales (23.1%), Mucorales (11.8%), and Saccharomycetales (11.3%) caused most IFI. Most patients had an underlying malignancy (38.7%) with acute leukemia accounting for 50% of cancers. Dissemination was observed in 26.9% of the patients. Complete or partial clinical response rate was 68.3%, being highest in Eurotiales (82.4%) and in Agaricales (80.0%). Overall mortality rate was 29.3%, ranging from 11.8% in Eurotiales to 50.0% in Mucorales. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians are confronted with a complex variety of fungal pathogens, for which treatment recommendations are lacking and successful outcome might be incidental. Through an international consortium of physicians and scientists, these cases of extremely rare IFI can be collected to further investigate their epidemiology and eventually identify effective treatment regimens.
The Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) aims to prevent invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) worldwide through education, research and cooperation. In March 2019, a GMI meeting was held with a multidisciplinary group of experts and representatives from countries within Eastern Europe. Across the countries represented, IMD surveillance is largely in place, with incidence declining in recent decades and now generally at <1 case per 100,000 persons per year. Predominating serogroups are B and C, followed by A, and cases attributable to serogroups W, X and Y are emerging. Available vaccines differ between countries, are generally not included in immunization programs and provided to high-risk groups only. Available vaccines include both conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines; however, current data and GMI recommendations advocate the use of conjugate vaccines, where possible, due to the ability to interrupt the acquisition of carriage. Ongoing carriage studies are expected to inform vaccine effectiveness and immunization schedules. Additionally, IMD prevention and control should be guided by monitoring outbreak progression and the emergence and international spread of strains and antibiotic resistance through use of genomic analyses and implementation of World Health Organization initiatives. Protection of high-risk groups (such as those with complement deficiencies, laboratory workers, migrants and refugees) is recommended.
- MeSH
- epidemický výskyt choroby * MeSH
- incidence MeSH
- kontrola infekčních nemocí organizace a řízení MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- meningokokové infekce epidemiologie mikrobiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- meningokokové vakcíny aplikace a dávkování imunologie MeSH
- Neisseria meningitidis klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- přenašečství epidemiologie mikrobiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- přenos infekční nemoci prevence a kontrola MeSH
- séroskupina MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- východní Evropa MeSH
- MeSH
- Borrelia burgdorferi * MeSH
- divoká zvířata parazitologie MeSH
- klíště mikrobiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lymeská nemoc epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- dopisy MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Normanské ostrovy epidemiologie MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) play important roles in the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To investigate the function of the BBB during tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), the levels of MMP-9 and its common tissue inhibitor, TIMP-1, were measured in serum from patients with acute phase of TBE. METHODS: Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were measured in 147 patients with TBE and 153 controls by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum MMP-9 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios of TBE patients were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in serum TIMP-1 levels between TBE patients and controls. Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were not associated with age of the patients. However, TBE-positive males with TBE had higher levels of MMP-9 than TBE-positive females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increased serum level of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio is associated with the pathogenesis of TBE. Serum MMP-9 can serve as an indicator of breakdown of the BBB and inflammatory brain damage during TBE.
- MeSH
- biologické markery krev MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- ELISA MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida krev enzymologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matrixová metaloproteinasa 9 krev MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- neparametrická statistika MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- tkáňový inhibitor metaloproteinasy 1 krev MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- MeSH
- agamaglobulinemie * komplikace epidemiologie mortalita MeSH
- imunoglobulin G krev MeSH
- imunoglobulin M krev MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- sepse * komplikace mortalita MeSH
- septický šok * komplikace mortalita MeSH
- syndrom systémové zánětlivé reakce * komplikace mortalita MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- dopisy MeSH
