Globally, one-third of all deaths are due to infectious and parasitic diseases. Parasitic infections due to protozoa and helminths, not only affect human health but have a great economic impact in both developed and developing countries. Protozoan from the species Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma and helminths as Schistosoma spp., Opisthorchis spp., and Fasciola spp. are among the pathogenic agents that are responsible for mild to serious illness and even death. Compared with bacteria and viruses, these etiological agents are often overlooked and neglected, and their unrecognition is a serious issue. Humans generally acquire parasitic infections by consuming raw or undercooked food or water contaminated with developmental stages of parasites. Due to their importance and impact on human health, it is necessary to understand the fundamental aspects of pathogenesis, interaction host-parasite, detection, diagnostic, and treatment of parasitic infections.
Surveillance, detection, and diagnosis are essential in order to control parasitic infections. The detection of some parasites, especially protozoa that are in environmental matrices, is challenging and difficult the development of standard detection methods. Therefore, it is imperative to dedicate additional effort to circumvent that fact. The consonant of these facts indicates that there is a need for further studies to understand more about the life cycle of these parasites (especially protozoa), identify the vehicles of infection, develop methods for their detection and improve diagnostic tools.
With regard to helminths, life cycle and infection routes are well known. However, their host-parasite interaction is less known, and is important emphasize that species as Schistosoma and Opisthorchis are carcinogenic. How do these infections evolve into cancer? Are antiparasitic drugs alone enough to prevent the progression to cancer? Probably, the combination of drugs or other relevant biomolecules with different modes of action could be beneficial for the treatment of these infections.
In this Research Topic, we aim to publish Original Research and Reviews that focus on parasitic diseases caused by protozoa and helminths of species mentioned above with special emphasis in:
• Novel methods for detection of protozoa in environmental samples.
There is an increasing awareness of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables which can be an infection vehicle. In this subtopic, we intend to explore new methods for the detection of protozoa in environmental matrices, for example, immunodetection, improved PCR, liquid chromatography, among others.
• Novel therapeutic strategies for parasitic diseases.
Antiparasitic drugs are available for most parasitic diseases. However, their use in mass drug administration (e.g. praziquantel) raises a legitimate concern about the development of drug resistance. In this topic, we intend to publish studies that present an interesting and promising therapeutic alternative. Moreover, we aim to focus on therapeutic strategies that could be helpful to prevent carcinogenesis.
Globally, one-third of all deaths are due to infectious and parasitic diseases. Parasitic infections due to protozoa and helminths, not only affect human health but have a great economic impact in both developed and developing countries. Protozoan from the species Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma and helminths as Schistosoma spp., Opisthorchis spp., and Fasciola spp. are among the pathogenic agents that are responsible for mild to serious illness and even death. Compared with bacteria and viruses, these etiological agents are often overlooked and neglected, and their unrecognition is a serious issue. Humans generally acquire parasitic infections by consuming raw or undercooked food or water contaminated with developmental stages of parasites. Due to their importance and impact on human health, it is necessary to understand the fundamental aspects of pathogenesis, interaction host-parasite, detection, diagnostic, and treatment of parasitic infections.
Surveillance, detection, and diagnosis are essential in order to control parasitic infections. The detection of some parasites, especially protozoa that are in environmental matrices, is challenging and difficult the development of standard detection methods. Therefore, it is imperative to dedicate additional effort to circumvent that fact. The consonant of these facts indicates that there is a need for further studies to understand more about the life cycle of these parasites (especially protozoa), identify the vehicles of infection, develop methods for their detection and improve diagnostic tools.
With regard to helminths, life cycle and infection routes are well known. However, their host-parasite interaction is less known, and is important emphasize that species as Schistosoma and Opisthorchis are carcinogenic. How do these infections evolve into cancer? Are antiparasitic drugs alone enough to prevent the progression to cancer? Probably, the combination of drugs or other relevant biomolecules with different modes of action could be beneficial for the treatment of these infections.
In this Research Topic, we aim to publish Original Research and Reviews that focus on parasitic diseases caused by protozoa and helminths of species mentioned above with special emphasis in:
• Novel methods for detection of protozoa in environmental samples.
There is an increasing awareness of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables which can be an infection vehicle. In this subtopic, we intend to explore new methods for the detection of protozoa in environmental matrices, for example, immunodetection, improved PCR, liquid chromatography, among others.
• Novel therapeutic strategies for parasitic diseases.
Antiparasitic drugs are available for most parasitic diseases. However, their use in mass drug administration (e.g. praziquantel) raises a legitimate concern about the development of drug resistance. In this topic, we intend to publish studies that present an interesting and promising therapeutic alternative. Moreover, we aim to focus on therapeutic strategies that could be helpful to prevent carcinogenesis.
