Limited evidence suggests that the consumption of polyphenols may improve glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity. The gut microbiome produces phenolic metabolites and increases their ...bioavailability. A handful of studies have suggested that polyphenol consumption alters gut microbiome composition. There are no data available investigating such effects in polyphenol-rich Montmorency cherry (MC) supplementation. A total of 28 participants (aged 40-60 years) were randomized to receive daily MC or glucose and energy-matched placebo supplementation for 4 wk. Faecal and blood samples were obtained at baseline and at 4 wk. There was no clear effect of supplementation on glucose handling (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Gutt indices), although the Matsuda index decreased significantly in the MC group post-supplementation, reflecting an increase in serum insulin concentration. Contrastingly, placebo, but not MC supplementation induced a 6% increase in the Oral Glucose Insulin Sensitivity (OGIS) estimate of glucose clearance. Serum IL-6 and C reactive protein were unaltered by either supplement. The faecal bacterial microbiome was sequenced; species richness and diversity were unchanged by MC or placebo and no significant correlation existed between changes in
and
abundance and any index of insulin sensitivity. Therefore, 4 weeks of MC supplementation did not alter the gut microbiome, glycaemic control or systemic concentrations of IL-6 and CRP in a middle-aged population.
Entamoeba gingivalis has been associated with periodontal diseases. Baseline data from the background population, which could help delimit the role of the parasite in health and disease, remain ...limited.
To describe epidemiological features, genetic diversity, and associations with oral microbiome signatures of E. gingivalis colonisation in Tanzanians with non-oral/non-dental diseases.
DNAs from 92 oral washings from 52 participants were subject to metabarcoding of ribosomal genes. DNA sequences were identified to genus level and submitted to oral microbiota diversity analyses.
Sixteen (31%) of the 52 study participants were E. gingivalis-positive, with no difference in positivity rate according to gender or age. Only one subtype (ST1) was found. Individuals testing positive for E. gingivalis had higher oral microbiota alpha diversity than those testing negative (P = 0.03). Eight of the top-ten most common bacterial genera were shared between the two groups (Alloprevotella, Fusobacterium, Gemella, Haemophilus, Neisseria, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Veillonella). Meanwhile, E. gingivalis carriers and non-carriers were more likely to have Aggregatibacter and Rothia, respectively, among the top-ten most common genera.
About one third of the cohort carried E. gingivalis ST1, and carriers had higher oral microbiome diversity and were more predominantly colonized by Aggregatibacter.
Cases of cryptosporidiosis in humans have been reported with strong indication of transmission from rodents. Here, we report seven new human cases of cryptosporidiosis involving rodent-adapted ...species (Cryptosporidium ditrichi n = 1, Cryptosporidium mortiferum n = 4; previously known as Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I, Cryptosporidium tyzzeri n = 1, and Cryptosporidium viatorum n = 1) and review cases of human infection caused by these four species published to date. The seven new cases were detected in Denmark within a period of twelve months from 2022 to 2023. Only the C. tyzzeri and C. viatorum cases were associated with travel outside Denmark. The total number of human cases of cryptosporidiosis due to C. ditrichi and C. tyzzeri documented to date globally are still limited (4 and 7, respectively), whereas cases involving C. viatorum and C. mortiferum have been detected to a larger extent (43 and 63 cases, respectively). The four new cases of C. mortiferum were all of the XIVaA20G2T1 subtype, which is the only subtype identified so far in Scandinavia, and which is a subtype not yet found outside of Scandinavia. The new C. viatorum case was identified as the XVaA3g subtype. The C. tyzzeri case was subtyped as IXbA6. No subtype data were produced for C. ditrichi due to lack of a subtype assay. Review of existing data suggests the presence of C. ditrichi and C. mortiferum primarily in northern countries and C. tyzzeri and C. viatorum primarily in warmer climates. While our data may further support the role of Cryptosporidium as a cause of zoonotic disease, case descriptions should be obtained where possible to determine if Cryptosporidium species primarily adapted to rodents are the likely cause of symptoms or just an incidental finding.
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•Partial 1-year surveillance found 7 human cases of rodent-adapted Cryptosporidium.•The 7 cases were caused by C. ditrichi, C. mortiferum, C. tyzzeri, and C. viatorum.•The four C. mortiferum cases were all caused by subtype XIVaA20G2T1.•Subtype XIVaA20G2T1 is the only C. mortiferum subtype found in Scandinavia so far.•The C. tyzzeri and C. viatorum infections had been contracted outside Europe.
Abstract Blastocystis is a common unicellular intestinal parasite in humans. Its clinical relevance is still subject to discussion with numerous conflicting reports on its ability to cause disease. A ...remarkable genetic heterogeneity among isolates suggests an association between distinct subtypes (STs) and pathogenicity, although a clear correlation between symptoms and subtype is lacking. Here, we report on a clinical case which possibly links Blastocystis sp. ST2 infection with the simultaneous occurrence of gastrointestinal illness and generalized chronic urticaria. Despite repeated chemotherapy with different antimicrobial drugs, both the gastrointestinal and cutaneous disorders reoccurred after short symptom-free intervals. Eradication of the parasite and permanent resolution of the patient's medical condition was finally achieved with the combined application of metronidazole and paromomycin.
Comprehensive detection and differentiation of intestinal protists mostly rely on DNA-based methods. Here, we evaluated next-generation sequencing of eukaryotic nuclear ribosomal genes ...(metabarcoding) for the detection and differentiation of intestinal eukaryotic protists in the stool of healthy Tunisian individuals.
Thirty-six faecal DNA samples previously evaluated by microscopy and ameboid species-specific PCRs were tested. The hypervariable regions V3-V4 and V3-V5 of the 18S rRNA gene were amplified using three universal eukaryotic primer sets and sequenced using Illumina®MiSeq sequencing. In addition, real-time PCR assays were used to detect Dientamoeba fragilis, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium spp.
The metabarcoding assay detected Blastocystis (subtypes 1, 2, and 3) and archamoebid species and subtypes (Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba hartmanni, Entamoeba coli RL1 and RL2, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba bütschlii RL1) in 27 (75%) and 22 (61%) of the 36 stool samples, respectively. Meanwhile, the assay had limited sensitivity for flagellates as evidenced by the fact that no Giardia-specific reads were found in any of the five Giardia-positive samples included, and Dientamoeba-specific reads were observed only in 3/13 D. fragilis-positive samples. None of the samples were positive for Cryptosporidium by any of the methods. In conclusion, a large variety of intestinal eukaryotic protists were detected and differentiated at species and subtype level; however, limited sensitivity for common flagellates was observed.
A 46-year-old woman presented with facial pain and discomfort. Diagnosis of subcutaneous dirofilariasis was reached after several months from symptom onset. Dirofilariasis should be suspected, also ...in non-endemic areas, in patients with a migrating subcutaneous nodule. Plastic surgery is preferred, as the face is often involved.
Probiotics have been described to influence host health and prevent the risk of obesity by gut microbiome (GM) modulation. In a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled feasibility study, we ...investigated whether Vivomixx® multi-strain probiotics administered to 50 women with obesity during pregnancy altered the GM composition and perinatal health outcomes of their infants up to 9 months after birth. The mothers and infants were followed up with four visits after birth: at 3 d, and at 3, 6, and 9 months after delivery. The infants were monitored by anthropometric measurements, fecal sample analysis, and questionnaires regarding health and diet.The study setup after birth was feasible, and the women and infants were willing to participate in additional study visits and collection of fecal samples during the 9-month follow-up. In total, 47 newborns were included for microbiome analysis.Maternal prenatal Vivomixx® administration did not alter infant GM diversity nor differential abundance, and the probiotic strains were not vertically transferred. However, the infant GM exhibited a decreased prevalence of the obesity-associated genera,
, in the probiotic group and of the metabolic health-associated
in the placebo group, indicating that indirect community-scale effects of Vivomixx® on the GM of the mothers could be transferred to the infant.Moreover, 3 d after birth, the GM of the infant was influenced by mode of delivery and antibiotics administered during birth. Vaginally delivered infants had increased diversity and relative abundance of the metabolic health-associated
and
while having a decreased relative abundance of
compared with infants delivered by cesarean section. Maternal antibiotic administration during birth resulted in a decreased relative abundance of
in the GM of the infants. In conclusion, this study observed potential effects on obesity-associated infant GM after maternal probiotic supplementation.
Taenia solium and Taenia saginata are zoonotic parasites of public health importance. Data on their occurrence in humans and animals in western Europe are incomplete and fragmented. In this study, we ...aimed to update the current knowledge on the epidemiology of these parasites in this region.
We conducted a systematic review of scientific and grey literature published from 1990 to 2015 on the epidemiology of T. saginata and T. solium in humans and animals. Additionally, data about disease occurrence were actively sought by contacting local experts in the different countries.
Taeniosis cases were found in twelve out of eighteen countries in western Europe. No cases were identified in Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. For Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the UK, annual taeniosis cases were reported and the number of detected cases per year ranged between 1 and 114. Detected prevalences ranged from 0.05 to 0.27%, whereas estimated prevalences ranged from 0.02 to 0.67%. Most taeniosis cases were reported as Taenia spp. or T. saginata, although T. solium was reported in Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Portugal and the UK. Human cysticercosis cases were reported in all western European countries except for Iceland, with the highest number originating from Portugal and Spain. Most human cysticercosis cases were suspected to have acquired the infection outside western Europe. Cases of T. solium in pigs were found in Austria and Portugal, but only the two cases from Portugal were confirmed with molecular methods. Germany, Spain and Slovenia reported porcine cysticercosis, but made no Taenia species distinction. Bovine cysticercosis was detected in all countries except for Iceland, with a prevalence based on meat inspection of 0.0002-7.82%.
Detection and reporting of taeniosis in western Europe should be improved. The existence of T. solium tapeworm carriers, of suspected autochthonous cases of human cysticercosis and the lack of confirmation of porcine cysticercosis cases deserve further attention. Suspected cases of T. solium in pigs should be confirmed by molecular methods. Both taeniosis and human cysticercosis should be notifiable and surveillance in animals should be improved.
Rodents may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium; however, data from molecular surveys in support of this hypothesis are still scarce. In this study, we screened faeces and ...rectal content from murid and cricetid rodents (N = 58) caught around three farms in Zealand, Denmark, for Cryptosporidium spp. by amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) of ribosomal genes. Selected samples were further examined using nested conventional PCR targeting SSU rRNA, gp60, and actin genes. Cryptosporidium-specific DNA was identified in 40/58 (69%) samples, and in 12 (30%) of the 40 positive animals, mixed cryptosporidial infections were observed. Cryptosporidium ditrichi was the species most commonly identified, found in 28 (48%) of the animals. Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in 4 (7%) of the animals, all of which were co-infected with C. ditrichi. The present study is the first to utilize NGS-based screening for Cryptosporidium species in wild rodents. Moreover, it is the first study to provide molecular data on Cryptosporidium in rodents sampled in Denmark and to detect DNA of C. ditrichi in Mus musculus, Myodes glareolus, and Microtus agrestis. The NGS approach was successfully applied to yield new knowledge, and the results showed that zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium are common in murid and cricetid rodents in Zealand, Denmark.
•Faecal DNAs from wild rodents captured in Denmark were screened for Cryptosporidium.•The DNAs were subject to amplicon-based next-generation sequencing of ribosomal DNA.•Mixed cryptosporidial infection was observed in 12 of 40 (30%) infected animals.•Zoonotic species were observed, including C. parvum (n = 4) and C. ditrichi (n = 28).•Actin and glycoprotein 60 genes were successfully sequenced for some samples.
Giardia intestinalis, a cosmopolitan gastrointestinal protist, is detected mainly in patients with clinical giardiasis in high-income countries. In contrast, there is very little information on the ...presence of Giardia in asymptomatic individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of Giardia in gut-healthy volunteers in the Czech Republic and to perform a comparative evaluation of different diagnostic methods, since Giardia diagnostics is complicated. Our results confirmed that the qPCR method is the most sensitive method for detecting Giardia and revealed a prevalence of 7% (22/296) in asymptomatic individuals. In most cases, the colonization intensity ranged from 10−1–101. A conventional PCR protocol targeting the TPI gene was used to identify the assemblages. However, this protocol had limited sensitivity for Giardia amplification, effectively detecting colonization above an intensity of 104. In addition, Giardia was detected in 19% of the animals, which were closely associated with the study participants. However, due to methodological limitations, zoonotic transmission could not be clearly confirmed. Notably, contact with animals proved to be the only factor that had a significant impact on the incidence of Giardia in gut-healthy humans.
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