A small parasite can be wreaking havoc under the belt, even long after it is gone.
A new study found that a parasitic infection “often overlooked”, already related to bladder cancer, could also trigger gene activity related to cancer in cervical lining.
Even more worrying, genetic changes seem to intensify after treatment, a red flag that, according to researchers, suggests that patients may need a closer monitoring alike after their infection has been clarified.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that runs rampant in tropical and subtropical areas where clean water and clean sanitation are scarce, according to the World Health Organization.
The infection generally begins when microscopic larvae, courtesy of fresh water snails, excavate in their skin rotating in contaminated water.
A particularly unpleasant strain, S. Haematobium, infects more than 110 million people worldwide. One inside the body, the larvae grow in adult worms that put eggs in the urinary and reproductive tracts.
These eggs trigger chronic inflammation, damaging the tissue and causing cellular changes that can sometimes lead to bladder cancer. But its impact on the cervix has been largely a mystery, so far.
Cervix under siege
In a new study, the researchers analyzed samples of cervical fabric of 39 Tanzanas women, some infected with S. Haematobium and others.
Infected women were treated with Praziquantel, a drug that kills adult worms, and samples were tasks before and 4 to 12 months after treatment.
When studying the activity of the gene in these samples, the team identified nine genes that behave differently in infected and not infected women.
“The findings suggest that the infection can trigger molecular changes that make women more vulnerable to processes related to cervical cancer,” said Dr. Anna Maria Mertelsmann, a researcher at the University Hospital of Zurich and Weill Cornell Medicine, who directed the study.
He recommended that women diagnosed with S. hematobium be supervised by the first signs of cervical tissue anomalies that could lead to cancer.
Cured, but not in the clear
In particular, in women whose infections were clear after treatment, the researchers identified 23 genes that changed, while 29 genes differed between who were treated and those who had never been infected.
“Our research shows that the women who resorted to the treatment of Praziquantel exhibited more genetic changes related to cancer than they with an active infection,” said Mertelsmann.
“This raises critical questions about the long -term effects of treatment and highlights the need for careful monitoring after treatment,” he continued.
While Praziquantel is the first -line treatment for infections by S. Hematobium, Mertelsmann suggested that additional therapies, such as anti -inflammatory or immune modulation treatments, could be observed by ARPAs observed after taking.
Research is only the beginning of discovering how S. Haematobium could play a role in cervical cancer. A broader study that tracks 180 women for 12 months is already underway to confirm the findings.
How to protect from S. Haematobium
Although the parasite worm is not typically found in the US, it is common in parts of Africa and the Middle East. If you travel to areas where the disease prevails, there are some simple steps that you can take to protect, according to CDC.
First, avoid swimming, bathing or wading in fresh water bodies such as lakes, rivers or ponds. Opt for chlorinated pools or ocean, which are usually consulted safely.
Second, always treat the water from natural sources before drinking it. It can boil, filter or let the water repeat for approximately 24 hours to reduce the risk of infection.
