Human fascioliasis in South Africa

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Abstract

Human fascioliasis has the widest latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal distribution of any vector-borne disease, yet only 3 cases have been reported from South Africa, the last in 1964. We report 2 cases from the same geographic area associated with local consumption of watercress, suggesting an endemic focus.

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Global burden of human food-borne trematodiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Thomas Fürst, Jennifer Keiser, Jürg Utzinger (2012)

Food-borne trematodiases are a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by liver, lung, and intestinal parasitic fluke infections. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2010 study) and a WHO initiative, we assessed the global burden of human food-borne trematodiasis, as expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for the year 2005. We systematically searched electronic databases for reports about human food-borne trematodiasis without language restriction, between Jan 1, 1980, and Dec 31, 2008. We used a broad search strategy with a combination of search terms and parasite and disease names. The initial search results were then screened on the basis of title, abstract, and, finally, full text. Relevant quantitative and qualitative data on human prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of food-borne trematodiasis were extracted. On the basis of available information on pathological and clinical appearance, we developed simplified disease models and did meta-analyses on the proportions and odds ratios of specified sequelae and estimated the global burden of human food-borne trematodiasis. We screened 33,921 articles and identified 181 eligible studies containing quantitative information for inclusion in the meta-analyses. About 56·2 million people were infected with food-borne trematodes in 2005: 7·9 million had severe sequelae and 7158 died, most from cholangiocarcinoma and cerebral infection. Taken together, we estimate that the global burden of food-borne trematodiasis was 665,352 DALYs (lower estimate 479,496 DALYs; upper estimate 859,051 DALYs). Furthermore, knowledge gaps in crucial epidemiological disease parameters and methodological features for estimating the global burden of parasitic diseases that are characterised by highly focal spatial occurrence and scarce and patchy information were highlighted. Despite making conservative estimates, we found that food-borne trematodiases are an important cluster of neglected diseases. Swiss National Science Foundation; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Food-borne trematodiases.

Jennifer Keiser, Jürg Utzinger (2009)

An estimated 750 million people are at risk of infections with food-borne trematodes, which comprise liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis, Fasciola gigantica, Fasciola hepatica, Opisthorchis felineus, and Opisthorchis viverrini), lung flukes (Paragonimus spp.), and intestinal flukes (e.g., Echinostoma spp., Fasciolopsis buski, and the heterophyids). Food-borne trematodiases pose a significant public health and economic problem, yet these diseases are often neglected. In this review, we summarize the taxonomy, morphology, and life cycle of food-borne trematodes. Estimates of the at-risk population and number of infections, geographic distribution, history, and ecological features of the major food-borne trematodes are reviewed. We summarize clinical manifestations, patterns of infection, and current means of diagnosis, treatment, and other control options. The changing epidemiological pattern and the rapid growth of aquaculture and food distribution networks are highlighted, as these developments might be associated with an elevated risk of transmission of food-borne trematodiases. Current research needs are emphasized.

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Distribution and habitats of the snail Lymnaea truncatula, intermediate host of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, in South Africa.

K N de Kock, C T Wolmarans, M. S. Riana Bornman (2003)

This paper focuses on the geographical distribution and habitats of Lymnaea truncatula, the intermediate, snail host of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, as reflected by the 723 samples in the database of the National Freshwater Snail Collection, Potchefstroom, South Africa. The 221 different loci (1/16-degree squares) on record reflect an extensive but discontinuous distribution, except in Lesotho and in parts of the Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa. Although recorded from 12 different types of waterbody, it was mostly (42.0%) recovered from swamps. Most samples (45.8%) were collected in habitats with slow-flowing water. A muddy substratum was recorded for 62.5% of the samples. Most samples (86.3%) were collected in habitats with a mean annual air temperature of 10-20 degrees C, and more than 69% came from localities with a mean annual rainfall of 600-900 mm. An integrated decision tree constructed from the data indicated that temperature and types of waterbody play a decisive role in determining the presence of L. truncatula in a given area. A temperature index calculated for all mollusc species ranked L. truncatula second in a total of 53 species according to its association with low temperatures. It remains to be established whether its distribution is indeed discontinuous, and whether its preference for a particular habitat, amphibious habits and ability to aestivate could have resulted in some populations having been overlooked during surveys.

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Author and article information

Contributors

J Black: Role: ND

N Ntusi: Role: ND

P Stead: Role: ND

B Mayosi: Role: ND

M Mendelson: Role: ND

Journal

Journal ID (publisher): samj

Title: SAMJ: South African Medical Journal

Abbreviated Title: SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j.

Publisher: Health and Medical Publishing Group (Cape Town )

ISSN: 2078-5135

Publication date (Print): 2013

Volume: 103

Issue: 9

Pages: 658-659

Affiliations

[1 ] Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town South Africa

[2 ] Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town South Africa

[3 ] Vincent Pallotti Hospital South Africa

[4 ] Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town South Africa

[5 ] Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town South Africa

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Publisher ID: S0256-95742013000900027

SO-VID: 83272bf7-16f4-4d95-8e82-d7cc0d59fddc

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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SciELO South Africa

Self URI (journal page): http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=0256-9574&lng=en

Human fascioliasis in South Africa

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Pan African Medical Journal

Most cited references 10

Global burden of human food-borne trematodiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Food-borne trematodiases.

Distribution and habitats of the snail Lymnaea truncatula, intermediate host of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, in South Africa.

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