Epidemiological and Clinical investigation

Manager: Rogelio López-Vélez HRC

Subprogram: Diagnosis and Epidemiology of Parasitic Protozoan Diseases

Manager: Basilio Valladares Hernández IUETSPC

The Atlanta Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Cryptosporidium, Mycrosporidium and Acanthamoebae as emerging parasites.

Cryptosporidium is the cause of enteric diseases throughout the world which affect animals and humans alike. This protozoa can cause severe gastrointestinal infections and, occasionally, death. The Phylum Microsporidia encompass protozoan, obligate intracellular and spore-forming parasites. Microsporidiosis gives rise to a range of clinical manifestations that depend both on the infective species and the host's immunological status. Among immunocompetent subjects, clinical manifestations tend to be isolated and infrequent, with traveller's diarrhoea being the most widespread case. These parasites are taken as references of contamination by legislation governing drinking water for human consumption and water treatment and purification, with a phylogenetic study of the findings being essential for ascertaining the sources of infection of intestinal diseases.

The presence of Acanthamoebae in Man is accidental, with related diseases being rare and opportunistic. In recent years, however, incidence of Acanthamoebae-related diseases has registered a notable rise. This is due to the increase in the number of immunocompromised patients in the case of systemic infections, and to the increase in contact-lens users in the case of ocular keratitis.

Goals

1.- Molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of free-living amoebae of the Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia and Naegleria genera.

2.- Molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium, Ciclospora and other enteric parasitic protozoa.

3.- Research into virulence factors of these protozoa.

4.- Search for RNAi-based treatments against these protozoa.