Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection
Abstract Background Swimmer's itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. In particular, avian blood flukes of the genus Trichobilharzia are infamous for their role in swimmer’s itch cases. These parasites...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4 |
| _version_ | 1827316165942181888 |
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| author | Ruben Schols Nathalie Smitz Ann Vanderheyden Tine Huyse |
| author_facet | Ruben Schols Nathalie Smitz Ann Vanderheyden Tine Huyse |
| author_sort | Ruben Schols |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Swimmer's itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. In particular, avian blood flukes of the genus Trichobilharzia are infamous for their role in swimmer’s itch cases. These parasites infect waterfowl as a final host, but incidental infections by cercariae in humans are frequently reported. Upon accidental infections of humans, parasite larvae will be recognized by the immune system and destroyed, leading to painful itchy skin lesions. However, one species, Trichobilharzia regenti, can escape this response in experimental animals and reach the spinal cord, causing neuroinflammation. In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. Methods Following a reported case of swimmer’s itch in Kampenhout in 2022 (Belgium), the transmission site consisting of a private pond and an adjacent creek was investigated through a malacological and parasitological survey. Results Six snail species were collected, including the widespread Ampullaceana balthica, a well-known intermediate host for Trichobilharzia parasites. Shedding experiments followed by DNA barcoding revealed a single snail specimen to be infected with T. regenti, a new species record for Belgium and by extension the Benelux. Moreover, it is the most compelling case to date of the link between this neurotropic parasite and cercarial dermatitis. Additionally, an Echinostomatidae sp. and Notocotylus sp. were isolated from two other specimens of A. balthica. However, the lack of reference DNA sequences for these groups in the online repositories prevented genus- and species-level identification, respectively. Conclusions The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. The lack of species-level identification of the other two parasite species showcases the barcoding void for trematodes. Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-37783b71d9ca44a88498982577a71378 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:10:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-37783b71d9ca44a88498982577a713782024-03-17T12:17:00ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052024-03-0117111110.1186/s13071-024-06218-4Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infectionRuben Schols0Nathalie Smitz1Ann Vanderheyden2Tine Huyse3Department of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central AfricaDepartment of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central AfricaBopCo, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesDepartment of Biology & BopCo, Royal Museum for Central AfricaAbstract Background Swimmer's itch, an allergic contact dermatitis caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, is a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. In particular, avian blood flukes of the genus Trichobilharzia are infamous for their role in swimmer’s itch cases. These parasites infect waterfowl as a final host, but incidental infections by cercariae in humans are frequently reported. Upon accidental infections of humans, parasite larvae will be recognized by the immune system and destroyed, leading to painful itchy skin lesions. However, one species, Trichobilharzia regenti, can escape this response in experimental animals and reach the spinal cord, causing neuroinflammation. In the last few decades, there has been an increase in case reports across Europe, making it an emerging zoonosis. Methods Following a reported case of swimmer’s itch in Kampenhout in 2022 (Belgium), the transmission site consisting of a private pond and an adjacent creek was investigated through a malacological and parasitological survey. Results Six snail species were collected, including the widespread Ampullaceana balthica, a well-known intermediate host for Trichobilharzia parasites. Shedding experiments followed by DNA barcoding revealed a single snail specimen to be infected with T. regenti, a new species record for Belgium and by extension the Benelux. Moreover, it is the most compelling case to date of the link between this neurotropic parasite and cercarial dermatitis. Additionally, an Echinostomatidae sp. and Notocotylus sp. were isolated from two other specimens of A. balthica. However, the lack of reference DNA sequences for these groups in the online repositories prevented genus- and species-level identification, respectively. Conclusions The presence of T. regenti in Belgium might have severe clinical implications and its finding highlights the need for increased vigilance and diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. The lack of species-level identification of the other two parasite species showcases the barcoding void for trematodes. Overall, these findings demonstrate the need for a Belgian framework to rapidly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4Trematode infectionsSchistosomatidaeZoonosesTrichobilharziaDermatitisSnail-borne diseases |
| spellingShingle | Ruben Schols Nathalie Smitz Ann Vanderheyden Tine Huyse Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection Parasites & Vectors Trematode infections Schistosomatidae Zoonoses Trichobilharzia Dermatitis Snail-borne diseases |
| title | Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| title_full | Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| title_fullStr | Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| title_short | Expanding the swimmer’s itch pool of the Benelux: a first record of the neurotropic Trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| title_sort | expanding the swimmer s itch pool of the benelux a first record of the neurotropic trichobilharzia regenti and potential link to human infection |
| topic | Trematode infections Schistosomatidae Zoonoses Trichobilharzia Dermatitis Snail-borne diseases |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06218-4 |
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