<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Nematodes are invertebrates that can cause parasitic diseases in humans, animals and plants. These organisms also participate in the decomposition of dead remains of organisms. In recent years, new reports have appeared on the possibility of using intentional nematode infections in the treatment of autoimmune and neurological diseases.
The aim of this work is to summarize information about nematodes pathogenic to humans and the possibilities of therapeutic use of some nematodes. 36 original and review publications from 2008-2022 were analyzed.
Information was collected on 13 diseases caused by parasitic nematodes in humans (reservoir, routes of infection, susceptible organisms, symptoms of infection). Current publications on trials of using <italic>Trichuris suis</italic> eggs (TSO) in animal models, in healthy humans and in people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) are summarized. Clinical improvement was observed in some of the subjects. However, researchers draw attention to the depletion of the biodiversity of the host’s intestinal microbiota in the presence of TSO.
Conclusions
The results of research on the therapeutic use of TSO remain inconclusive.
There are many more diseases caused by parasitic nematodes in humans than there are documented therapeutic effects of TSOs.
Exposure to parasitic nematodes’ eggs (especially <italic>Toxocara canis</italic> and <italic>Toxocara cati</italic>) is still very common.
</abstract>

Nematodes are invertebrates that can cause parasitic diseases in humans, animals and plants. These organisms also participate in the decomposition of dead remains of organisms. In recent years, new reports have appeared on the possibility of using intentional nematode infections in the treatment of autoimmune and neurological diseases.
The aim of this work is to summarize information about nematodes pathogenic to humans and the possibilities of therapeutic use of some nematodes. 36 original and review publications from 2008-2022 were analyzed.
Information was collected on 13 diseases caused by parasitic nematodes in humans (reservoir, routes of infection, susceptible organisms, symptoms of infection). Current publications on trials of using Trichuris suis eggs (TSO) in animal models, in healthy humans and in people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) are summarized. Clinical improvement was observed in some of the subjects. However, researchers draw attention to the depletion of the biodiversity of the host’s intestinal microbiota in the presence of TSO.
Conclusions
The results of research on the therapeutic use of TSO remain inconclusive.
There are many more diseases caused by parasitic nematodes in humans than there are documented therapeutic effects of TSOs.
Exposure to parasitic nematodes’ eggs (especially Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati) is still very common.

Medical Significance of Nematodes

Polish Hyperbaric Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Medical Significance of Nematodes"}

Nematodes are invertebrates that can cause parasitic diseases in humans, animals and plants. These organisms also participate in the decomposition of dead...

Medical Significance of Nematodes

Published Online: Jun 08, 2024

Page range: 41 - 56

Received: Feb 11, 2023

Accepted: Feb 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/phr-2023-0015

Keywords
nematodes, parasites, immunomodulation

© 2023 Barbara Nieradko-Iwanicka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Medical Significance of Nematodes

Published Online: Jun 08, 2024

Page range: 41 - 56

Received: Feb 11, 2023

Accepted: Feb 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/phr-2023-0015

Keywordsnematodes, parasites, immunomodulation

© 2023 Barbara Nieradko-Iwanicka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
nematodes, parasites, immunomodulation