Last data update: Apr 29, 2024. (Total: 46658 publications since 2009)
Records 1-16 (of 16 Records) |
Query Trace: Mathison BA [original query] |
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Where have all the diagnostic morphological parasitologists gone
Bradbury RS , Sapp SGH , Potters I , Mathison BA , Frean J , Mewara A , Sheorey H , Tamarozzi F , Couturier MR , Chiodini P , Pritt B . J Clin Microbiol 2022 60 (11) e0098622 Advances in laboratory techniques have revolutionized parasitology diagnostics over the past several decades. Widespread implementation of rapid antigen detection tests has greatly expanded access to tests for global parasitic threats such as malaria, while next-generation amplification and sequencing methods allow for sensitive and specific detection of human and animal parasites in complex specimen matrices. Recently, the introduction of multiplex panels for human gastrointestinal infections has enhanced the identification of common intestinal protozoa in feces along with bacterial and viral pathogens. Despite the benefits provided by novel diagnostics, increased reliance on nonmicroscopy-based methods has contributed to the progressive, widespread loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification. Loss of microscopy and morphology skills has the potential to negatively impact patient care, public health, and epidemiology. Molecular- and antigen-based diagnostics are not available for all parasites and may not be suitable for all specimen types and clinical settings. Furthermore, inadequate morphology experience may lead to missed and inaccurate diagnoses and erroneous descriptions of new human parasitic diseases. This commentary highlights the need to maintain expert microscopy and morphological parasitology diagnostic skills within the medical and scientific community. We proposed that light microscopy remains an important part of training and practice in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and that efforts should be made to train the next generation of morphological parasitologists before the requisite knowledge, skills, and capacity for this complex and important mode of diagnosis are lost. In summary, the widespread, progressive loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification negatively impacts patient care, public health, and epidemiology. |
An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae
Mathison BA , Sapp SGH . Zookeys 2021 1069 1-313 The classification of "parasites" in the medical field is a challenging notion, a group which historically has included all eukaryotes exclusive of fungi that invade and derive resources from the human host. Since antiquity, humans have been identifying and documenting parasitic infections, and this collective catalog of parasitic agents has expanded considerably with technology. As our understanding of species boundaries and the use of molecular tools has evolved, so has our concept of the taxonomy of human parasites. Consequently, new species have been recognized while others have been relegated to synonyms. On the other hand, the decline of expertise in classical parasitology and limited curricula have led to a loss of awareness of many rarely encountered species. Here, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all reported eukaryotic organisms (excluding fungi and allied taxa) parasitizing humans resulting in 274 genus-group taxa and 848 species-group taxa. For each species, or genus where indicated, a concise summary of geographic distribution, natural hosts, route of transmission and site within human host, and vectored pathogens are presented. Ubiquitous, human-adapted species as well as very rare, incidental zoonotic organisms are discussed in this annotated checklist. We also provide a list of 79 excluded genera and species that have been previously reported as human parasites but are not believed to be true human parasites or represent misidentifications or taxonomic changes. |
Duplex real-time PCR assay for clinical differentiation of Onchocerca lupi and Onchocerca volvulus
de Almeida M , Nascimento FS , Mathison BA , Bishop H , Bradbury RS , Cama VA , da Silva AJ . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 103 (4) 1556-1562 In the United States and Europe, human onchocerciasis is a rare disease caused by zoonotic or anthropophilic parasites in the genus Onchocerca. The zoonotic species identified in focal areas of Europe and United States is Onchocerca lupi, and Onchocerca volvulus, the anthroponotic species, may be found among people who had lived in endemic areas of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, or Latin America. Onchocerciasis due to O. lupi is an emergent parasitic disease, with limited diagnostic methods, in addition to the lack of information on its biology, transmission, and epidemiology. Cutaneous nodules are the disease's most prevalent manifestation but lack diagnostic specificity. To address the diagnosis of onchocerciasis at reference laboratories, we developed a duplex TaqMan real-time PCR (qPCR) method, targeting the cytochrome oxidase subunit I locus which has species-specific probes to identify and differentiate O. lupi from O. volvulus. We determined the performance of the duplex with a panel of 45 samples: 11 positives for O. lupi, six for O. volvulus, five samples with negative results for Onchocerca spp., and 23 non-Onchocerca nematodes. The duplex qPCR correctly detected 10 of 11 O. lupi- and six of six O. volvulus-positive specimens. The new duplex assay allowed the simultaneous detection and discrimination of O. lupi and O. volvulus in clinical specimens, expediting and facilitating the clinical diagnosis of O. lupi in non-endemic settings where the disease is an infrequent finding. |
Trichomonas vaginalis brain abscess in a neonate
Hamilton H , Pontiff KL , Bolton M , Bradbury RS , Mathison BA , Bishop H , De Almeida M , Ogden BW , Barnett E , Rastanis D , Klar AL , Uzodi AS . Clin Infect Dis 2018 66 (4) 604-607 We describe a case of cerebral trichomoniasis in a neonate in whom seizures and multiorgan failure developed during treatment for staphylococcal sepsis. Brain abscesses were identified with cranial sonography, and Trichomonas vaginalis was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid samples. The patient died despite metronidazole therapy. |
Photo quiz: A 4-year-old boy vomits on his sister
Westblade LF , Mathison BA , Singer MS , Jerris RC , Caltharp SA . J Clin Microbiol 2016 54 (12) 2845 A 4-year-old boy with a 2-month history of cough presented to a pediatric urgent care center following an acute coughing episode where he vomited on his sister's shirt and a live worm-like organism admixed with vomitus and mucus was discovered. His chronic cough was characterized by an undulating course, increased nocturnal severity, and frequent posttussive emesis. The patient had no significant previous medical or travel history. On physical examination, the boy was afebrile and breathing at a normal rate and rhythm. A chest radiograph showed no abnormal findings. He exhibited no abdominal distention, tenderness, or guarding. On presentation, a complete blood count was notable for mild eosinophilia (430 eosinophils/μl [normal, <350 eosinophils/μl]) (See reference 1 in the answer to the photo quiz [doi:10.1128/JCM.03116-14]), and the worm-like organism was submitted to the pathology department for identification (Fig. 1). |
Answer to December 2016 photo quiz
Westblade LF , Mathison BA , Singer MS , Jerris RC , Caltharp SA . J Clin Microbiol 2016 54 (12) 3076 A noctuid caterpillar. Due to the presence of the worm-like organism in the vomitus, the child's mother was concerned about a parasitic helminth infection; however, the organism was subsequently identified as a noctuid caterpillar (larva) (2). The overall morphology and size, together with the presence of prolegs, a defined head capsule, and segmentation, distinguished the organism from a helminth of medical importance. Closer examination of the midlateral portion of the caterpillar revealed a green and black raised “nodular” structure that was suggestive of parasitosis by a member of the family Tachinidae, a family of parasitic flies (3). | Based on the history, it was unclear if the boy had attempted to ingest the caterpillar and subsequently vomited or if the caterpillar was already present on his sibling's shirt. It was also uncertain if the child's mother thought the caterpillar was related to his 2-month history of cough. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the patient's history, the boy's mother was concerned about the identity of the organism and potential for parasitic infection and ultimately sought medical counsel to address these concerns. An ova and parasite examination of a single, incidental stool specimen collected at the time of the child's presentation demonstrated the presence of Entamoeba coli cysts, but no helminth ova were observed. |
Macracanthorhynchus ingens infection in an 18-month-old child in Florida: a case report and review of acanthocephaliasis in humans
Mathison BA , Bishop HS , Sanborn CR , Souza SD , Bradbury R . Clin Infect Dis 2016 63 (10) 1357-1359 A case of acanthocephaliasis in an 18-month-old child caused by Macracanthorhynchus ingens is reported from Florida. This represents only the third documented case of this species in a human host. An overview of human cases of acanthocephaliasis in the literature is presented, along with a review of the biology, clinical manifestations and pathology in the human host, morphology, and diagnosis. |
Novel Mutation in Cytochrome B of Plasmodium falciparum in One of Two Atovaquone-Proguanil Treatment Failures in Travelers Returning From Same Site in Nigeria.
Plucinski MM , Huber CS , Akinyi S , Dalton W , Eschete M , Grady K , Silva-Flannery L , Mathison BA , Udhayakumar V , Arguin PM , Barnwell JW . Open Forum Infect Dis 2014 1 (2) ofu059 BACKGROUND: Atovaquone-proguanil (AP) is the most commonly used treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the United States. Apparent AP treatment failures were reported 7 months apart in 2 American travelers who stayed in the same compound for foreign workers in Rivers State, Nigeria. METHODS: We analyzed pretreatment (day 0) and day of failure samples from both travelers for mutations in the P falciparum cytochrome B (pfcytb) and dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) genes associated with resistance to atovaquone and cycloguanil, the active metabolite of proguanil, respectively. We genotyped the parasites and sequenced their mitochondrial genomes. RESULTS: On day 0, both travelers had proguanil-resistant genotypes but atovaquone-sensitive cytb sequences. Day of failure samples exhibited mutations in cytb for both travelers. One traveler had the common Y268S mutation, whereas the other traveler had a previously unreported mutation, I258M. The travelers had unrelated parasite genotypes and different mitochondrial genomes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the infections likely having been contracted in the same site, there is no evidence that the cases were related. The mutations likely arose independently during the acute infection or treatment. Our results highlight the importance of genotyping parasites and sequencing the full cytb and dhfr genes in AP failures to rule out transmission of AP-resistant strains and identify novel mechanisms of AP resistance. |
Malignant Transformation of Hymenolepis nana in a Human Host.
Muehlenbachs A , Bhatnagar J , Agudelo CA , Hidron A , Eberhard ML , Mathison BA , Frace MA , Ito A , Metcalfe MG , Rollin DC , Visvesvara GS , Pham CD , Jones TL , Greer PW , Velez Hoyos A , Olson PD , Diazgranados LR , Zaki SR . N Engl J Med 2015 373 (19) 1845-52 Neoplasms occur naturally in invertebrates but are not known to develop in tapeworms. We observed nests of monomorphic, undifferentiated cells in samples from lymph-node and lung biopsies in a man infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The morphologic features and invasive behavior of the cells were characteristic of cancer, but their small size suggested a nonhuman origin. A polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay targeting eukaryotes identified Hymenolepis nana DNA. Although the cells were unrecognizable as tapeworm tissue, immunohistochemical staining and probe hybridization labeled the cells in situ. Comparative deep sequencing identified H. nana structural genomic variants that are compatible with mutations described in cancer. Invasion of human tissue by abnormal, proliferating, genetically altered tapeworm cells is a novel disease mechanism that links infection and cancer. |
Review of telemicrobiology
Rhoads DD , Mathison BA , Bishop HS , da Silva AJ , Pantanowitz L . Arch Pathol Lab Med 2015 140 (4) 362-70 CONTEXT: Microbiology laboratories are continually pursuing means to improve quality, rapidity, and efficiency of specimen analysis in the face of limited resources. One means by which to achieve these improvements is through the remote analysis of digital images. Telemicrobiology enables the remote interpretation of images of microbiology specimens. To date, the practice of clinical telemicrobiology has not been thoroughly reviewed. OBJECTIVE: To identify the various methods that can be employed for telemicrobiology, including emerging technologies that may provide value to the clinical laboratory. DATA SOURCES: Peer-reviewed literature, conference proceedings, meeting presentations, and expert opinions pertaining to telemicrobiology have been evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: A number of modalities have been employed for telemicroscopy, including static capture techniques, whole slide imaging, video telemicroscopy, mobile devices, and hybrid systems. Telemicrobiology has been successfully implemented for several applications, including routine primary diagnosis, expert teleconsultation, and proficiency testing. Emerging areas of telemicrobiology include digital plate reading of bacterial cultures, mobile health applications, and computer-augmented analysis of digital images. To date, static image capture techniques have been the most widely used modality for telemicrobiology, despite newer technologies being available that may produce better quality interpretations. Telemicrobiology adds value, quality, and efficiency to the clinical microbiology laboratory, and increased adoption of telemicrobiology is anticipated. |
Infections by intestinal coccidia and Giardia duodenalis
Cama VA , Mathison BA . Clin Lab Med 2015 35 (2) 423-44 The coccidians Cryptosporidium spp, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Cystoisospora belli and the flagellate Giardia duodenalis are pathogenic protozoa associated with gastrointestinal manifestations. Diagnosis relies heavily on microscopy, and although ova-and-parasite examinations can detect Giardia and Cystoisospora, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora often require specific diagnostic requests. Approved non-microscopy methods are available for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, although negative results are frequently followed by microscopic assays. Polymerase chain reaction-based methods are not frequently used for diagnosis of Giardia and Cryptosporidium and have been used primarily for epidemiologic or outbreak investigations of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. |
Introduction of the exotic tick Hyalomma truncatum on a human with travel to Ethiopia: a case report
Mathison BA , Gerth WJ , Pritt BS , Baugh S . Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014 6 (2) 152-4 An Oregon resident returned from a photography trip to Ethiopia with a male Hyalomma truncatum tick attached to the skin on his lower back. The tick was identified morphologically and deposited in the U.S. National Tick Collection housed at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. The public health importance of Hyalomma species of ticks and diagnostic dilemmas with identifying exotic ticks imported into the U.S. are discussed. |
Laboratory identification of arthropod ectoparasites
Mathison BA , Pritt BS . Clin Microbiol Rev 2014 27 (1) 48-67 The collection, handling, identification, and reporting of ectoparasitic arthropods in clinical and reference diagnostic laboratories are discussed in this review. Included are data on ticks, mites, lice, fleas, myiasis-causing flies, and bed bugs. The public health importance of these organisms is briefly discussed. The focus is on the morphological identification and proper handling and reporting of cases involving arthropod ectoparasites, particularly those encountered in the United States. Other arthropods and other organisms not of public health concern, but routinely submitted to laboratories for identification, are also briefly discussed. |
Zoonotic Onchocerca lupi infection in a 22-month-old child in Arizona: first report in the United States and a review of the literature
Eberhard ML , Ostovar GA , Chundu K , Hobohm D , Feiz-Erfan I , Mathison BA , Bishop HS , Cantey PT . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013 88 (3) 601-5 A 22-month-old girl presented with neck pain and stiffness and magnetic resonance imaging showed an extradural mass extending from C2 through the C4 level with moderate to severe compression of the cord. A left unilateral C2-C4 laminectomy was performed revealing an extradural rubbery tumor; a small biopsy was obtained. Examination of stained tissue revealed the presence of a parasitic worm that was identified as a gravid female Onchocerca lupi. A magnetic resonance imaging at 7 weeks follow-up showed a significantly decreased size of the enhancing lesion and the patient's symptoms gradually resolved. This is the first report of zoonotic O. lupi in the United States. The parasite has been reported in dogs and cats in the western United States, and from people in four cases reported from Europe. A great deal more needs to be learned, including full host range and geographic distribution, before we fully understand O. lupi infections in animals and man. |
Ocular zoonotic Onchocerca infection in a resident of Oregon
Eberhard ML , Sims AC , Bishop HS , Mathison BA , Hoffman RS . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012 87 (6) 1073-5 A long, slender filarial nematode was removed from the left anterior chamber of a resident of Oregon after several days of pain and blurred vision. The worm was identified as an Onchocerca, but it could not be further identified. This worm is the third zoonotic Onchocerca removed from the anterior chamber and the second case reported from the United States. Cases of zoonotic onchocerciasis continue to garner attention, and those cases affecting the eye are of particular interest. |
Gnathostomiasis in a patient who frequently consumes sushi
Jarell AD , Dans MJ , Elston DM , Mathison BA , Ruben BS . Am J Dermatopathol 2011 33 (8) e91-3 A 45-year-old woman presented for evaluation of a solitary pruritic nodule on the abdomen that suddenly appeared 3 weeks before. She was healthy without a significant medical history, travel history, exposures, medications, or pets. She reported that she consumed sushi at least weekly in the city of San Francisco. A punch biopsy revealed a superficial and deep perivascular and interstitial infiltrates consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and many eosinophils. Most notably, there was a parasite centered in the reticular dermis with prominent lateral chords, a well-developed muscular esophagus, and an intestine that contained a brush border and multinucleate cells. Evaluation of these histological sections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the parasite to be a nematode of the genus Gnathostoma. The patient underwent a systemic work-up for gnathostomiasis, including imaging, and no other abnormalities were found. She completed a 3-week course of albendazole and has remained asymptomatic since the biopsy of her abdominal lesion. Although gnathostomiasis is often a systemic illness, this patient did well with apparently only localized cutaneous disease. Gnathostomiasis should be considered in patients who present with nonspecific papules and nodules, especially when there is a history of frequent consumption of raw fish. |
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