Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites

Dear Colleagues,

The damage caused by intestinal parasites is related to delays in production, the cost of prophylactic and curative treatments and, in extreme cases, the death of animals and humans. While in developed countries spending on control costs is significant, in developing countries, parasitic diseases cause losses by reducing production and restricting the breeding of animals with reduced susceptibility to parasitosis, but with low production performance. Humans suffer from various parasitic intestinal infections, which also limit their well-being and development and cause them to suffer from various parasitic zoonoses. The lack of this information can lead to the inappropriate use of anthelmintic treatments, related to the rapid development of resistance, which can translate into an increase in clinical cases and production losses. On the other hand, the world's human population is increasingly demanding healthier, residue-free food that has been produced in a way that preserves the environment. Intestinal parasitosis represents a global problem that has not only been attributed to financial losses but also to losses caused by damage to animal and human health. The collection of prevalence data is necessary with the use of biotechnological or customary tools, which are important to know the real reality of each location and can indicate whether the control measures adopted are effective or even whether the unprecedented report may indicate the growth of one of these agents. Pathological mechanisms and lesions caused by these agents can also indicate the various damages related to them. Among the advances for the control of helminthosis are biological control, vaccines, resistant breeds, nanotechnology, and even new phytotherapeutic anthelmintics. The aim of this Special Issue was to present the “Prevalence, Pathology, and Alternative Control of Intestinal Parasites” in domestic animals and the man. We therefore invite our colleagues to send in their work so that we can fulfil this objective.

Dr. Jackson Victor de Araújo
Prof. Dr. Fabio Ribeiro Braga
Guest Editors

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• parasitic diseases
• helminthosis
• zoonosis
• endoparasithosis

Title: Nematophagous fungi in the control of intestinal helminth parasites in humans
Authors: Jackson Victor De Araujo; Fabio Ribeiro Braga
Affiliation: Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Brazil
Abstract: Helminths affect Humans and posing a significant zoonotic risk. The widespread use of anthelmintics to treat gastrointestinal helminth infections is common. However, these chemical products generate residues that can have adverse effects on human and environmental health. In addition to the challenge of parasite resistance to treatment, there is an urgent need to explore and discuss complementary and sustainable methods of controlling helminthiases. In this context, nematophagous or helminthophagous fungi have emerged as a potential tool for the control of environmental forms of helminths. The purpose of this review is to emphasize the importance of these fungi in the control of free-living forms of helminth parasites in human by highlighting the research that has been conducted for this purpose. In vitro experiments demonstrated the efficacy of fungi like Pochonia chlamydosporia, Arthrobotrys sp, Paecylomices sp and Monacrosporium sp in trapping and reducing helminth infective forms. These findings, along with soil contamination studies, suggest the feasibility of using helminthophagous fungi as a sustainable and effective strategy for environmental control. The current literature supports the potential of these fungi as an environmentally friendly solution for managing helminthiasis , benefiting public welfare.