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Parasites and microbes need triglycerides or cholesterol to thrive

The requirement of cholesterol for internalization of eukaryotic pathogens like protozoa (Leishmaniasis, Malaria and Toxoplasmosis) and the exchange of cholesterol along with other metabolites during reproduction in Schistosomes (helminths) under variable circumstances are poorly understood. In patients infected with some other helminthes, alterations in the lipid profile have been observed. Also, the mechanisms involved in lipid changes especially in membrane proteins related to parasite infections remain uncertain. Present review of literature shows that parasites induce significant changes in lipid parameters, as has been shown in the in vitro study where substitution of serum by lipid/cholesterol in medium and in experimental models (in vivo). Thus changes in lipid profile occur in patients having active infections with most of the parasites. Membrane proteins are probably involved in such reactions. All parasites may be metabolising cholesterol, but the exact relationship with pathogenic mechanism is not clear. So far, studies suggest that there may be some factors or enzymes, which allow the parasite to breakup and consume lipid/cholesterol. Further studies are needed for better understanding of the mechanisms involved in vivo. The present review analysis the various studies till date and the role of cholesterol in pathogenesis of different parasitic infections.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1142336/

During infection significant alterations in lipid metabolism and lipoprotein composition occur. Triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol levels increase, while reduced HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are observed. More importantly, endotoxemia modulates HDL composition and size: phospholipids are reduced as well as apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, while serum amyloid A (SAA) and secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) dramatically increase, and, although the total HDL particle number does not change, a significant decrease in the number of small- and medium-size particles is observed. Low HDL-C levels inversely correlate with the severity of septic disease and associate with an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response. HDL, as well as other plasma lipoproteins, can bind and neutralize Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Gram-positive bacterial lipoteichoic acid (LTA), thus favoring the clearance of these products. HDLs are emerging also as a relevant player during parasitic infections, and a specific component of HDL, namely, apoL-1, confers innate immunity against trypanosome by favoring lysosomal swelling which kills the parasite. During virus infections, proteins associated with the modulation of cholesterol bioavailability in the lipid rafts such as ABCA1 and SR-BI have been shown to favor virus entry into the cells. Pharmacological studies support the benefit of recombinant HDL or apoA-I mimetics during bacterial infection, while apoL-1–nanobody complexes were tested for trypanosome infection. Finally, SR-BI antagonism represents a novel and forefront approach interfering with hepatitis C virus entry which is currently tested in clinical studies. From the coming years, we have to expect new and compelling observations further linking HDL to innate immunity and infections.

Table 1

Mechanisms of parasite–microbiota interactions in the vertebrate gut.

Mechanism category Host factors involved Effect direction Mechanism description (Potential) Consequences Examples showing both mechanism and consequence
INDIRECT INTERACTIONS (INVOLVING THE HOST)
Physical changes to the gut Intestinal mucus P > M Helminths, and some protozoa, increase mucus production Increases mucolytic bacteria and bacteria capable of using mucins as a carbon source T. suis (Li et al., ); T. muris (Holm et al., ; Houlden et al., ; Ramanan et al., ); Eimeria (Collier et al., )
Reduces bacteria attachment to the gut epithelium T. trichiura (Broadhurst et al., )
Parasites alter mucus composition and structure Alters food availability, attachment sites, gut flow rates, and access to the epithelium for gut microbes T. muris (Hasnain et al., ); N. brasiliensis(Tsubokawa et al., ); E. histolytica (Hicks et al., ); T. gondii (Kim and Khan, ; Trevizan et al., ); Giardia (Kim and Khan, )
M > P Microbiota affects mucus synthesis Impacts expulsion rate of parasites
Epithelial barrier P > M Parasites damage epithelial tight junctions Allows for microbial translocation across the gut epithelium H. polygyrus (Chen et al., ); T. spiralis (McDermott et al., ); S. venezuelensis(Farid et al., ); N. brasiliensis (Hyoh et al., ); T. gondii (Heimesaat et al., ; Hand et al., ; Cohen and Denkers, ); Giardia (Chen et al., ; Halliez, )
M > P Microbiota strengthens and shapes permeability of mucus barrier Alters the degree of mucosal damage and bacterial translocation that occurs after parasite infection
Epithelial cell turnover P > M Helminths increase epithelial cell turnover Selects for microbes capable of replicating at a high rate
M > P Microbiota mediate cell turnover via SCFAs Impacts parasite colonization and expulsion
Innate immunity Toll-like receptors P > M Helminths increase expression of TLRs Increases activation of responses against microbiota H. polygyrus (Ince et al., ; Friberg et al., ); H. diminuta (Kosik-Bogacka et al., )
M > P Microbiota can prime protective immune responses through TLRs Protects against parasite infection through primed innate immune responses T. gondii (Benson et al., )
Antimicrobial peptides P > M Helminths secrete antimicrobial peptides Protects against harmful immune responses elicited by microbial contact
Inflammasomes P > M Parasites alter inflammasome activation Alters pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and microbial dysbiosis T. musculis (Chudnovskiy et al., )
M > P Microbiota-derived metabolites activate inflammasomes Creates a pro-inflammatory environment that may aid protozoa clearance, but also increased helminth chronicity
Adaptive immunity Th2 cells P > M Helminths increase Th2 responses Alters mucosal barrier function and impairs TH1 responses leading to an inability to control bacterial replication H. polygyrus (Chen et al., )
M > P Gut microbes inhibit or enhance Th2 responses Alters parasite survival T. muris (Dea-Ayuela et al., )
Treg cells P > M Helminths increase Treg responses Downregulates inflammatory responses against microbiota
Promotes Treg-inducing species H. polygyrus (Reynolds et al., )
Helminths secrete TGF-β mimics to induce Foxp3+ Tregs Downregulates inflammatory responses against microbiota H. polygyrus and T. circumcincta (Grainger et al., )
M > P Gut microbes induce Treg responses Impacts parasite persistence and survival H. polygyrus (Reynolds et al., ; Ohnmacht et al., )
DIRECT INTERACTIONS (NOT INVOLVING THE HOST)
Physical attachment n/a M > P Helminth egg hatching require/is enhanced by bacteria attachment Increases helminth colonization T. muris (Hayes et al., ); T. suis (Vejzagić et al., )
Heterophagy n/a M > P Pathogenic bacteria phagocytosed by parasite induces virulence Increases parasite virulence E. histolytica (Galván-Moroyoqui et al., )
Endosymbiosis n/a M > P Enteric bacteria engulfed by parasite, but not ingested Alters host-parasite immune interaction Giardia (El-Shewy and Eid, )
Secretions n/a P > M Helminth body fluids/secretions have antibacterial and bacteriolytic properties Disrupts microbiota
M > P Gut microbes secrete molecules that inhibit invading parasites Decreases parasite infections Cryptosporidium (Deng et al., ; Foster et al., ; Glass et al., ); Giardia(Pérez et al., ); E. tenella(Tierney et al., )
Ingestion n/a P > M Helminths ingest bacteria from their gut environment Restructures microbiota communities T. muris (White et al., )

Source:  https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09665-0_15

Sea salt drink to kill parasites and microbes

High-salt diet could protect against invading microbes

Summary:
Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary salt could have a biological advantage: Defending the body against invading microbes. A high-salt diet increased sodium accumulation in the skin of mice, thereby boosting their immune response to a skin-infecting parasite.
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Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a study published by Cell Press March 3rd in Cell Metabolism reveals that dietary salt could have a biological advantage: defending the body against invading microbes. A high-salt diet increased sodium accumulation in the skin of mice, thereby boosting their immune response to a skin-infecting parasite. The findings suggest that dietary salt could have therapeutic potential to promote host defense against microbial infections.

“Up to now, salt has been regarded as a detrimental dietary factor; it is clearly known to be detrimental for cardiovascular diseases, and recent studies have implicated a role in worsening autoimmune diseases,” says first study author Jonathan Jantsch, a microbiologist at Universitätsklinikum Regensburg and Universität Regensburg. “Our current study challenges this one-sided view and suggests that increasing salt accumulation at the site of infections might be an ancient strategy to ward off infections, long before antibiotics were invented.”

Large amounts of sodium stored in the skin, especially in older individuals, can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk for heart disease and stroke. A high-salt diet, which increases sodium storage in the skin, can also worsen autoimmune disease and even increase the risk of stomach cancer. “Despite the overwhelming evidence linking dietary salt to disease in humans, the potential evolutionary advantage of storing so much salt in the body has not been clear,” says senior study author Jens Titze, who studies the link between sodium metabolism and disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

A clue to this mystery came when Titze and his collaborators noticed an unusually high amount of sodium in the infected skin of mice that had been bitten by cage mates. Intrigued by this observation, Titze teamed up with Jantsch to examine the link between infection and salt accumulation in the skin. They found that infected areas in patients with bacterial skin infections also showed remarkably high salt accumulation. Moreover, experiments in mice showed that a high-salt diet boosted the activity of immune cells called macrophages, thereby promoting the healing of feet that were infected with a protozoan parasite called Leishmania major.

Moving forward, the researchers will examine how salt accumulates in the skin and triggers immune responses, and why salt accumulates in the skin of aging adults. “A further understanding of the regulatory cascades might not only help to design drugs that specifically enhance local salt deposition and help to combat infectious diseases, but also may lead to novel strategies to mobilize sodium stores in the aging population and prevent cardiovascular disease,” Jantsch says. “We also think that local application of high-salt-containing wound dressings and the development of other salt-boosting antimicrobial therapies might bear therapeutic potential.”

In the meantime, the researchers urge caution over the potential health benefits of a high-salt diet. “Due to the overwhelming clinical studies demonstrating that high dietary salt is detrimental to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, we feel that at present our data does not justify recommendations on high dietary salt in the general population,” Jantsch says. “Nevertheless, in situations where endogenous accumulation of salt to sites of infection is insufficient, supplementation of salt might be a therapeutic option. But this needs to be addressed in further studies.”

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Materials provided by Cell Press. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Iron and parasites

In this special issue, we analyze the importance of iron in the host-parasite interplay. Iron is a transition element and the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Iron is vital for growth of nearly all living organisms, from prokaryotes to humans. Iron plays an important role in several cellular processes, such as respiration, photosynthesis, oxygen transport, and DNA synthesis. Iron is essential but it is not easily bioavailable; ferric iron solubility is low at physiological pH whereas ferrous iron, in aerobic environments, is highly toxic. Therefore, iron is normally bound to proteins and the whole body and cellular iron concentrations have to be regulated in all organisms.

Some iron-containing and iron-binding proteins are intracellular such as the oxygen-carrier hemoglobin, the iron-storing protein ferritin, and numerous enzymes. Others are extracellular, mainly transferrin (Tf) and lactoferrin (Lf). Tf and Lf are able to capture up to two Fe3+ atoms per molecule, maintaining iron in a soluble and stable oxidation state in fluids and avoiding the generation of toxic free radicals derived from Fe2+ through the Fenton reaction. Free radicals are deleterious to most macromolecules. Tf and Lf maintain the free iron concentration too low to sustain the parasites growth. Tf is the iron transporter that allows cellular iron uptake; it is mainly found in serum and lymph. Lf is secreted into mucosae and by the secondary granules of neutrophils, to chelate the Fe3+ and avoid its availability for parasites.

Therefore, during infection, there is a constant battle between the host and the invader for iron, in which the invader attempts to have access to host iron and the host arranges complex iron-withholding mechanisms to frustrate the iron stealing. Virtually, all iron-containing proteins in eukaryotes can be used as iron sources by iron-seeking parasites; for that, several elaborate strategies have been developed by parasites to obtain host iron. Thus, capture and uptake of host iron by parasites are considered as virulence determinants.

Little information regarding iron acquisition in free-living amoebae has been reported. In the research article “Iron-Binding Protein Degradation by Cysteine Proteases of Naegleria fowleri,” M. Martínez-Castillo et al. report the cleaving of human hololactoferrin, hemoglobin, and holotransferrin by this parasite. N. fowlericauses primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. During the invasion, the microorganism interacts with different tissues such as olfactory neuroepithelium and olfactory bulbs that contain iron-binding proteins. The results show that this protozoan has several cysteine-secreted proteases that cleave iron-binding proteins. Using this strategy, N. fowleri could obtain iron from the host in the invaded tissues.

G. Ortíz-Estrada et al. address the issue about the possible way in which the human enteric parasiteEntamoeba histolytica could have access to bovine lactoferrin, a protein present in the milk mainly consumed by babies and infants fed with formula. In their research article “Binding and Endocytosis of Bovine Hololactoferrin by the Parasite Entamoeba histolytica,” the authors compare virulent trophozoites recently isolated from hamster liver abscesses with nonvirulent trophozoites maintained for more than 30 years in in vitro cultures, regarding their interaction with bovine iron-charged Lf (B-holo-Lf). Interestingly, although both amoeba variants are able to use B-holo-Lf as an iron source and endocytosed this glycoprotein through clathrin-coated vesicles, the acquisition of iron, binding parameters, and number of protein-binding sites per amoeba are different. In addition, the virulent amoebae also endocytosed B-holo-Lf through a cholesterol-dependent mechanism; thus the B-holo-Lf endocytosis is more efficient in virulent amoebae.

In the minireview article “Strategies of Intracellular Pathogens for Obtaining Iron from the Environment,” N. Leon-Sicairos et al. focus on how intracellular pathogens use multiple approaches to obtain nutritional iron from the intracellular environment, in order to use this element for replication. They explore the current knowledge about the process that occurs during infection by intracellular pathogens, where the iron is required by both the host cell and the pathogen that inhabits it. Intracellular microorganisms are destroyed by the host tissues through processes that usually involve phagocytosis and lysosomal disruption. However, some intracellular pathogens are capable of avoiding destruction by growing inside macrophages and other cells. Additionally, the implications of these mechanisms for iron acquisition in the host-pathogen relationship are discussed.

African trypanosomosis is caused by the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. This is a chronic and debilitating disease suffered mainly by people of developing countries. In the review “Iron-Homeostasis andTrypanosoma brucei Associated Immunopathogenicity Development: A Battle/Quest for Iron,” B. Stijlemans et al. analyze the different strategies that lead to a host immune response that results in iron deprivation, consisting in an iron modulation of the host myeloid phagocytic system that affects trypanosomosis-associated anemia development.

The review article “Trichomonas vaginalis Cysteine Proteinases: Iron Response in Gene Expression and Proteolytic Activity” by R. Arroyo et al. focuses on the iron response of Trichomonas vaginalis on gene family products as the cysteine proteinases (CPs) involved in virulence properties. In particular, it examines the effect of iron in gene expression regulation and function of cathepsin L-like and asparaginyl endopeptidase-like CPs as virulence factors. Aspects regarding CPs genomic organization are addressed to offer possible explanations to the fact that only few members of this large gene family are expressed at the RNA and protein levels. Also offers possible ways used to control these particular proteolytic activities. Moreover, all known iron regulatory mechanisms of CPs at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels along with new insights into the possible epigenetic and miRNA processes in T. vaginalis are also summarized.

Finally, in the review article “Transferrin: Endocytosis and Cell Signaling in Parasitic Protozoa,” by M. Reyes-López et al., the authors describe the presence of specific receptors for Tf in protozoan parasites. The signal transduction initiated upon ligand binding at the parasite plasma membrane with the process in mammalian cells is compared, based on the large amount of information on the Tf endocytosis. Several signaling pathways participate in Tf trafficking, such as the insertion of membrane vesicles, and the signaling pathways mediated by the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate and diacylglycerol, MAPK, or growth factors.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4452827/

Food safety: 128,000 are hospitalized per year from food-borne infections

Food safety is important for everyone – but it’s especially important for you. That’s why the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration have prepared this booklet. It is designed to provide practical guidance on how to reduce your risk of foodborne illness. In addition to this guide, we encourage you to check with your physician or healthcare provider to indentify foods and other products that you should avoid. You have a special need for this important information . . . so read on!

When certain disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites contaminate food, they can cause foodborne illness.  Another word for such a bacteria, virus, or parasite is “pathogen.” Foodborne illness, often called food poisoning, is an illness that comes from a food you eat.

  • The food supply in the United States is among the safest in the world – but it can still be a source of infection for all persons.
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million persons get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne infection and illness in the United States each year. Many of these people are children, older adults, or have weakened immune systems and may not be able to fight infection normally.

Since foodborne illness can be serious – or even fatal – it is important for you to know and practice safe food-handling behaviors to help reduce your risk of getting sick from contaminated food.

As we age, it is normal for our bodies not to work as well as they did when we were younger. Changes in our organs and body systems are expected as we grow older. These changes often make us more susceptible to contracting a foodborne illness or food poisoning. For example, our stomach and intestinal tract may hold on to foods for a longer period of time; our liver and kidneys may not readily rid our bodies of toxins; and our sense of taste or smell may be altered.

  • By the age of 65, many of us have been diagnosed with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer, or cardiovascular disease, and are taking at least one medication. The side effects of some medications or the chronic disease process may weaken the immune system, causing older adults to be more susceptible to contracting a foodborne illness.
  • After the age of 75 years and older, many adults often have a weakened immune system and are at an increased risk for contracting a foodborne illness.
  • Essentially, as we age, our immune system and other organs in our bodies have become a bit sluggish in recognizing and ridding the body of harmful bacteria and other pathogens that cause infections, such as foodborne illness. Should older adults contract a foodborne illness, you are more likely to have a lengthier illness, undergo hospitalization, or even die.
  • To avoid contracting a foodborne illness, older adults must be especially vigilant when handling, preparing, and consuming foods.

Make safe handling a lifelong commitment to minimize your risk of foodborne illness. Be aware that as you age, your immunity to infection naturally is weakened.

Pigs are a crucial part of the tapeworm life cycle

A teenager in India who had been infected with tapeworms died as a result of numerous cysts—formed by the tapeworms—in his brain (he had them throughout his body as well), which doctors only found when he showed up at the emergency room in Faridabad with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. These full-brain seizures, plus his groin pain, eye swelling, and general confusion are fairly common symptoms for bodily infection with tapeworms.

My 83 year old mother who complained of groin pain a year before she died of liver cancer had pulled a worm out of her anus few months before she died.

These parasites must all use nutrients from the host to multiply and survive. They are found in the digestive tract, the kidneys, liver, lungs or the blood stream.

In the sow, the important parasites are the large white worms ascarids (Ascaris suum), red stomach worms (Hyostrongylus rubidus) and whip worms (Trichuris suis).

The sow becomes the source of potential infection to piglets. The threadworm (Strongyloides ransomi) is important in the piglet. The life cycles of all are direct from eggs in faeces to adult in the intestine.

Internal parasites are an uncommon problem in the weaned, growing and finisher pig unless they are housed in continuously occupied straw based or bare concrete pens in which case ascarids may become a problem.

There are four groups of endoparasitic worms: nematodes (roundworms); thorny-headed worms; tapeworms and protozoa:

Trichinosis (trik-ih-NO-sis), sometimes called trichinellosis (trik-ih-nuh-LOW-sis), is a type of roundworm infection. Roundworm parasites use a host body to live and reproduce. Infection occurs primarily among meat-eating animals (carnivores) such as bears and foxes, or meat- and plant-eating animals (omnivores) such as domestic pigs and wild boar. The infection is acquired by eating roundworm larvae in raw or undercooked meat.

When humans eat undercooked meat containing trichinella larvae, the larvae mature into adult worms in the intestine over several weeks. The adult worms then produce larvae that travel through various tissues, including muscle. Trichinosis is most widespread in rural areas throughout the world.

Trichinosis can be treated with medication, though it’s not always necessary. It’s also easy to prevent.

Symptoms

  • Microscopic view of trichinella cysts in muscle tissue

    Trichinella cysts

Abdominal symptoms can occur one to two days after infection. Other symptoms usually start two to eight weeks after infection. The severity of symptoms usually depends on the number of larvae consumed in the infected meat.

Possibly no signs or symptoms

Mild cases of trichinosis — those with only a small number of parasites in your body — may cause no recognizable signs or symptoms. Symptoms can develop with moderate or heavy infestation, sometimes progressing as the parasite travels through your body.

Initial signs and symptoms

You swallow trichinella larvae encased in a cyst. Your digestive juices dissolve the cyst, releasing the parasite into your body. The larvae then penetrate the wall of the small intestine, where they mature into adult worms and mate. At this stage, you may experience:

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea and vomiting

Later signs and symptoms

About a week after infection, the adult female worms produce larvae that go through the intestinal wall, enter your bloodstream, and eventually burrow into muscle or other tissue. This tissue invasion can cause:

  • High fever
  • Muscle pain and tenderness
  • Swelling of the eyelids or face
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Vets are better than doctors in identifying parasites, the monster in us

When you have diarrhea , feeling bloated, cannot sleep at night and filling ill, check your poop for parasites. Bring the poop to the vet to be checked for parasites.

 

Less agreement among physicians occurs with three other parasites: Endolimax nana, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Blastocystis hominis. For years, these three were considered harmless. Unfortunately, most lab technicians assigned to poop examination (a part-time job I myself held during medical school) are not well-trained in checking for them. It’s very likely a reasonable percentage of patients written off as irritable bowel syndrome/diarrhea dominant actually have an infection with one of these three. The main clues that their IBS is protozoan in origin are that the diarrhea emerges as a new event in their lives, unrelated to stress, and isn’t triggered by any particular foods. “I got traveler’s diarrhea while in Mexico and despite antibiotics, it never went away,” sends me a clear signal to check for parasites.

Source: https://wholehealthchicago.com/2012/06/11/six-commonly-missed-diagnoses-parasites/

Parasites and groin pain

What are parasites?

Parasites are animals or plants which must live on or in another plant or animal to survive (go on living). There are several parasites in the environment and when they get into a person’s body, his/her health can be affected. Some parasites enter the body by way of contaminated food or water and some live on the skin and the hair. Examples of parasites include:

  • stomach and gut worms (threadworm, hookworm)
  • skin mites (scabies)
  • hair and body lice (head lice and crab lice)
  • protozoa (Giardia)

Most of these parasites cannot be seen without the help of a magnifying glass. Like a microscope, this is another kind of special instrument which makes things look bigger than they really are. Some adult worms are big enough to see without the help of a magnifying glass.
It is often easy to see where parasites have been, such as when they cause rashes on the skin.

Protozoa

Protozoa are tiny single-celled animals which can move about on their own. Protozoa are so small they can only be seen with the help of a microscope and only some of them cause disease in humans. An example of one of these is Giardia lamblia.
Fig. 1.10: Giardia, a disease-causing protozoan
Fig. 1.10: Giardia, a disease-causing protozoan.

Worms

Parasitic worms are small animals which can live inside the body. Their eggs are taken into the body, usually by swallowing. The worms then hatch out of the eggs and live in the body. Some types of worm larvae (young worms) can also burrow their way into the body through the skin.
When the worms live in the body they can cause sickness. They may get into the stomach and gut and eat the food before the body has digested it. This means that the body does not get enough nourishment. Sometimes the worms will find their way into other parts of the body, such as the blood or liver. When this happens these parts of the body may not work properly.
Fig. 1.11: Worms
Fig. 1.11: Worms

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Mites and lice

These are small animals which affect the skin and hair of the body. They cause the skin, especially the scalp, to become very itchy.
Fig. 1.12: Lice
Fig. 1.12: Lice.

5.2 Diseases caused by parasites

Common diseases in Indigenous communities which are caused by parasites are described below.

Giardiasis

This is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia getting into the small intestine. Giardia is a single celled animal which is so small it can only be seen with the help of a microscope.

This disease can occur anywhere in Australia and is very common in Indigenous communities. The symptoms (signs) of this disease are:

  • very severe or chronic (long-lasting) diarrhoea
  • stomach cramps and pain
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • weakness
  • weight loss

There is special medicine which can be taken to get rid of Giardia from the body.

Hookworm infection

This is a widespread disease in warm, tropical and sub-tropical places, especially where sewage disposal is inadequate. It is common in the Kimberley and other parts of tropical northern Australia.

Hookworm is a parasitic worm. The adult worm is about 1 cm in length and is about the thickness of a pin.
The worms suck blood from the human host. The disease becomes serious when there are many worms in the intestine sucking blood from the host. When this happens, the host loses too much blood which contains the body’s important nutrients (nourishing food).

This can cause:

  • the body to become anaemic (pale and weak)
  • fever
  • diarrhoea or constipation

In extreme cases hookworm infestation can stop the person from thinking and moving properly. It can also slow down children’s growth.

To get rid of these worms from the body, the person must be treated with special medicine.

Threadworm (or pinworm) infection

This is a disease which can occur in any part of Australia. It is another disease which is caused by a parasitic worm which lives in large numbers in the human intestine.

Threadworm causes anal (bum hole) itching. This can lead to disturbed sleep and can cause people to become grumpy. Excessive scratching can lead to broken skin which may become infected (pus sores).

Threadworms are easily passed from one person to another and frequently whole families or groups become infected.

There is also special medicine to get rid of these worms from the body.

Dwarf tapeworm infection

Dwarf tapeworm is the most common human tapeworm in Australia. It is a parasitic infection of the stomach and intestine.
Infection with this tapeworm can cause:

  • diarrhoea
  • stomach pain
  • weight loss
  • weakness

There is special medicine which will get rid of these worms from the body.

Scabies infection

This is a skin disease caused by a tiny animal which is called a mite. It is usually about 0.3 mm long. The female burrows into the skin to lay her eggs and this irritates the skin and makes it very itchy. As a result, the person scratches the skin a lot.
If the skin breaks as a result of the scratching, germs can enter the break in the skin and cause an infection. When treating the infection it is important to also get rid of the mites or lice; otherwise the irritations will continue and cause more infections.
To get rid of scabies a specially medicated lotion is used.

Pediculosis (head lice infection)

These tiny bloodsucking animals live their whole life on a person’s head. The lice stab an opening through the skin and suck up blood from the host. This causes irritation. The resulting scratching can lead to broken skin which can become infected.
Special shampoos are used to get rid of head lice. The eggs which are stuck to the hair need to be removed with a special fine-toothed comb.

5.3 Methods on how some important parasites are spread

Giardia

Giardia occur in the intestines of humans. When Giardia are inside the body they can move about quite easily, but they often leave the body as tiny egg-like cysts in faeces.

Infection happens when these cysts are taken back into the body of someone who does not have Giardia in their intestines. Once inside the intestine they become mobile (able to move) again and start to reproduce themselves by dividing and redividing.

Giardia cysts can be passed:

  • directly by the faecal/oral route from an infected person to one who is not infected
  • indirectly by taking in the cysts in contaminated water or food when eating or drinking

Hookworm

When hookworms get inside people, they lay their eggs inside the person’s intestines. These eggs get into the soil or water when infected human faeces has been left on the ground or from faulty or broken sewage systems.

Tiny larvae (young worms) will hatch out. If the soil is wet the larvae will develop to a stage where they can infect people. They can survive in wet soil for several weeks and are able to burrow through unbroken skin. This happens when people’s skin comes into contact with water, soil or faeces which is infected with hookworm larvae.

People can become infected with hookworm directly by the ingestion of larvae or by larvae burrowing through the skin.

People in the tropical parts of northern Australia who walk around in contaminated wet places without shoes are very likely to get infected.

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Inside the body the larvae travel through the blood stream to the lungs where they are coughed up and then swallowed. They finally reach the intestines where they develop into adult worms. Adult worms are able to attach themselves to the walls of the intestines. They have hooks around the mouth which allow them to do this. They live there and suck blood from the human host.
Fig. 1.14: How hookworm gets into the body and where it lives in the body
Fig. 1.14: How hookworm gets into the body and where it lives in the body.

Threadworm (or pinworm)

These worms look like tiny white threads and live in the intestine. The female worm will travel to the anal opening to lay its eggs on the skin around the anus. It is this activity which causes the itching. The eggs and the worms leave the body in faeces. The eggs hatch when they are taken into the same or another person’s intestine.

The worms or their eggs can be passed from one person to another:

  • directly through the faecal/oral route from an infected person to one who is not infected
  • indirectly through contact with contaminated clothing, bedding or food

Dwarf tapeworm

The dwarf tapeworm occurs in the stomach and intestines of humans. The adult tapeworm lays its eggs in the body. The eggs are passed out of the body in the faeces. If these eggs are ingested by other people indirectly or directly, the eggs will hatch in the intestine. The immature worm goes through two further stages of development before it becomes an adult.

Humans become infected with dwarf tapeworms:

  • directly by touching the mouth with fingers which are contaminated with faeces containing the egg
  • indirectly by ingesting eggs in contaminated food or water, or by swallowing an insect which has ingested eggs which have then hatched into larvae inside the insect

Roundworms

Roundworms are nematodes and are found in northern parts of Australia and in many tropical countries. Strongyloides stercoralis is a roundworm which causes a life threatening disease called Strongyloidiasis.

People can become infected through contact with soil contaminated by faeces containing the parasite.

People can often get sick where hygiene and sanitation are poor. Infection can be detected with a special blood test and people can be cured with special tablets.

Scabies

These small animals are a type of mite. The female burrows into the skin where it lays its eggs. When the mites hatch they climb out onto the surface of the skin and then enter hair follicles. These are the small openings in the skin which hold the hair roots. The young mites grow into adults in the hair follicles. They then climb out and mate and start the process all over again. It is the burrowing activity of the mites which causes the skin irritation associated with scabies.
Fig. 1.15: Scabies' life cycle
Fig. 1.15: Scabies’ life cycle.

Scabies prefer to live in certain places in the body. These are body creases such as the backs of the knee and elbow and in the armpit and groin.
Fig. 1.16: Scabies rash on the body
Fig. 1.16: Scabies rash on the body.

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Scabies can be passed from an infected person to an uninfected person by:

  • direct contact; or
  • indirect contact with contaminated clothing or bedding. Infection happens more frequently when people live in overcrowded conditions

 

Head lice

Adult lice live their whole lives in the hair of a person’s head. The lice stab openings in the skin to suck blood. The eggs of the head lice, which are also called nits, are glued to the hairs on the person’s head. The nits are about 1 mm in size and are whitish in colour. They take about a week to hatch.

The lice can be passed:

  • directly from person-to-person, such as when small children play or sleep together; or
  • indirectly through the sharing of infected combs, brushes and hats

While head lice can be killed with special shampoos, the nits are difficult to kill in this way. For this reason, nits must be removed with a special fine toothed comb.

Vitamin A and zinc

Scientists found that vitamin A and zinc supplementation was associated with distinct parasite-specific health outcomes. Vitamin A plus zinc reduces G. lamblia incidence, whereas zinc supplementation increases A. lumbricoides incidence but decreases E. histolytica-associated diarrhea.

Supplementation of B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium reduce the risk of infection by invasive diarrheal pathogens.

Supplementation of selenium and copper may help the control of H. contortus.

Healthcare advisory team

Dear Institution and startup in healthcare,

I can be one of your advisors to help you navigate in various health care strategies and compliance and strategies to meet your clients’ needs.  I also have a team in the Philippines to help you with admin tasks and marketing.  My goal is to lower healthcare costs to benefit the public and your organization, long term.

I am available via email if you need faster response on issues that are more important for you. I use data science, marketing and experience with the health consumers as my tools.  My expertise includes research, training, documentation and health strategies.

My fee starts at $250 per hour. And I can provide references when needed.

Connie Dello Buono

President

Motherhealth LLC

motherhealth@gmail.com
PO Box 3138 Saratoga CA, 95070
408-854-1883

Low levels of vitamin D in cancer and parasites-infection related health issue

Early signs of disease shows deficiency in vitamin D. Parasites, infections, inflammation, auto-immune disease and cancer shows low levels of vitamin D.

 

Souce:

Pathogenic mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis development have yet to be clearly identified, but considerable evidence indicates that autoimmunity plays an important role in the etiology of the disease. It is generally accepted that autoimmune diseases like MS arise from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Although environmental factors unequivocally influencing MS development have yet to be established, accumulating evidence singles out several candidates, including sunlight-UV exposure or vitamin D deficiency, viral infections, hygiene, and cigarette smoking. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with different autoimmune diseases. Several investigations indicate 125 (OH)2 vitamin D plays a critical role in shaping T-cell response and inducing T cells with immunosuppressive properties. Likewise, helminth infections represent another potential environmental factor exerting immunomodulatory properties. Both epidemiological and experimental data provide evidence to support autoimmune down-regulation secondary to parasite infections in patients with MS, through regulatory T- and B-cell action, with effects extending beyond simple response to an infectious agent. Finally, different epidemiological studies have demonstrated that Epstein-Barr virus infection confers added risk of developing MS. Proposed mechanisms responsible for this association include activation and expansion of self-reactive T and B cells, lower threshold for self-tolerance breakdown, and enhanced autoreactive B-cell survival, all to be discussed in this review. Understanding environmental factors influencing propensity to MS will lead to new and more effective approaches to prevent and treat the disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26046559

Toxic free home building materials

Working from the exterior in, here are five eco-friendly building materials Marilee strongly recommends over their more common—and chemical-laden—counterparts.

Instead of traditional sheathing . . .

ExtremeGreen Board

Breathability is a huge factor in having healthy walls, Marilee explains—that’s what helps prevent mold. “When a typical frame house is built in the U.S., we have what’s called sheathing, and the standard material for that is exterior-grade plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), and those both contain formaldehyde,” Marilee explains. Instead, Marilee recommends using a product called ExtremeGreen Board, which is made from magnesium oxide. “It has no formaldehyde, will not mold, cannot be eaten by insects, and is fireproof,” she explains.

Instead of traditional insulation . . .

American RockWool

“Finding perfect insulation is not easy because in today’s green building industry, foam is one of the most popular materials—and unfortunately it contains toxic flame retardants,” Marilee explains. Instead, she recommends American RockWool, which is naturally flame resistant, won’t mold, isn’t food for pests (apparently this is a problem with traditional insulations!), doesn’t smell, doesn’t degrade, and won’t damage your lungs like fiberglass.

Instead of traditional drywall . . .

Foreverboard

Made of magnesium oxide—the same mineral behind ExtremeGreen Board, you might remember—Foreverboard won’t get moldy or mildewed, and it’s fireproof and doesn’t smell. “The contractors love it, because it can be cut and used just like drywall,” Marilee says. Plaster is also perfectly acceptable (“a wonderful option,” Marilee says), but if you insist on using drywall, she asks that you at least look for one with no added biocides, a toxic material often added for mold prevention, and having it carefully installed in a way that inhibits moisture.

Instead of traditional joint compounds . . .

Murco M100 and Murco HA100

You might be wondering what in the world a joint compound is—don’t worry, we didn’t know either! Apparently it’s a material required for drywall installation. The ones typically used by contractors are full of SVOCs, which Marilee considers “insidious chemical”” because you can’t smell them and they ride on dust particles to spread all throughout a room. “Wonderful joint compounds that are nontoxic and will go from a textural wall to a full, level-five smooth wall are Murco’s M100 and HA 100,” she says, and the brand also has a great primer. For this step, she recommends referring your contractor to Murco’s chemist—his name is Lonny!—to get some tips on easy application.

*Instead of traditional paints . . . *

ECOS or Envirosafe

If you’re looking for non-toxic synthetic paint, Marilee highly recommends ECOS, as well as EnviroSafe, created by the chemists that make paint for NASA. “It’s interesting because they use purified water and materials from Europe,” she explains. Another alternative is to use an oil-based paint and let the smell completely clear before moving in. “One that’s mineral-based with no biocides is an American paint: RomaBio,” she says.

*Instead of traditional tile mortar . . . *

Kerabond or Versabond

Yes, even your tiling materials need to be considered if you want the build a nontoxic home! “One of the problems with the green building movement is that we have this obsession with mold,” Marilee explains. “So all of these companies are pouring biocides, antifungals, and antimicrobials into products that for years I considered nontoxic . . . installing tile used to be my easiest thing! But now the thinsets and grouts are full of biocides.” Two good biocide-free alternatives she recommends are Kerabond, an unmodified thinset without harmful chemicals, biocides, and latex, and Versabond by Custom Building Products, which contains a mild latex but has no biocides.

*Instead of traditional grout . . . *

Biocide-Free C-Cure AR Grout and Polyblend

Marilee recommends C-Cure AR Grout, which has no latex or biocides, and Polyblend by Custom Building Products, which has no biocides and a mild, fast-curing latex. (The latex decision is up to you!)

Instead of traditional caulk . . .

Non-Toxic Titebond Weathermaster Sealant

“Once a contractor uses Titebond Weather Master sealant, I get a call because they love it so much,” Marilee says. Not only does it hardly smell but it can also be used indoors or out and can fill up gaps up to an inch in diameter—and you can paint right over it immediately, rather than waiting 24 hours for it to dry. Contractors also like it for use in crawl spaces, because traditional caulk can get very toxic in closed quarters like those. Lesson learned: Build green and everybody, even your workers, are safer.

Causes of fast heart beat

Causes

Tachycardia is caused by something that disrupts the normal electrical impulses that control the rate of your heart’s pumping action. Many things can cause or contribute to problems with the heart’s electrical system. These include:

  • Damage to heart tissues from heart disease
  • Abnormal electrical pathways in the heart present at birth (congenital heart conditions, including long QT syndrome)
  • Disease or congenital abnormality of the heart
  • Anemia
  • Exercise
  • Sudden stress, such as fright
  • High or low blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Fever
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Drinking too many caffeinated beverages
  • Medication side effects
  • Abuse of recreational drugs, such as cocaine
  • Imbalance of electrolytes, mineral-related substances necessary for conducting electrical impulses
  • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

Most common signs and symptoms of health issues

Final signs of death

  • no pulse
  • no breathing
  • relaxed muscles
  • fixed eyes
  • no response
  • a bowel or bladder release
  • partially shut eyelids

Lung cancer

  • A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse
  • Breathing trouble, like shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood
  • Chest pain
  • Hoarseness or wheezing
  • Pneumonia that doesn’t go away or that goes away and comes back

Poisoning

  • drowsiness
  • headaches
  • confusion
  • severe diarrhea
  • feeling and being sick

Medication poisoning

  • diarrhoea
  • stomach pain
  • drowsiness, dizziness or weakness
  • high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
  • chills (shivering)
  • loss of appetite
  • headache
  • irritability
  • difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  •  breathing difficulties
  • producing more saliva than normal
  • skin rash
  • blue lips and skin (cyanosis)
  • burns around the nose or mouth
  • double vision or blurred vision
  • mental confusion
  • seizures (fits)
  • loss of consciousness
  • coma, in severe cases

Heart Symptoms

  • Chest Discomfort. It’s the most common sign of heart danger
  • Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, or Stomach Pain. Some people have these symptoms during a heart attack
  • Pain that Spreads to the Arm
  • You Feel Dizzy or Lightheaded
  • Throat or Jaw Pain
  • You Get Exhausted Easily
  • Snoring
  • Sweating

Metabolic syndrome

Most of the disorders associated with metabolic syndrome don’t have obvious signs or symptoms. One sign that is visible is a large waist circumference. And if your blood sugar is high, you might notice the signs and symptoms of diabetes — such as increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Stomach cancer 

  • Poor appetite
  • Weight loss (without trying)
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel
  • A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal
  • Heartburn or indigestion
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting, with or without blood

Kidney disease 

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Sleep problems
  • Changes in how much you urinate
  • Decreased mental sharpness
  • Muscle twitches and cramps

Symptoms of chronic pain syndrome

  • joint pain
  • muscle aches
  • burning pain
  • fatigue
  • sleep problems
  • loss of stamina and flexibility, due to decreased activity
  • mood problems, including depression, anxiety, and irritability

Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
  • New problems with words in speaking or writing

Uterine Fibroids (MedlinePlus)

  • Heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods
  • Feeling “full” in the lower abdomen
  • Urinating often
  • Pain during sex
  • Lower back pain
  • Reproductive problems, such as infertility, multiple miscarriages, or early labor

Hormonal imbalances in women

  • heavy, irregular, or painful periods
  • osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones)
  • hot flashes and night sweats
  • vaginal dryness
  • breast tenderness
  • indigestion
  • constipation and diarrhea
  • acne during or just before menstruation

Growth Hormone Deficiency Symptoms in Adults

  • Anxiety and/or depression
  • Baldness (in men)
  • Decrease in sexual function and interest
  • Decreased muscle mass and strength
  • Difficult to concentration and lack of memory
  • Dry, thin skin
  • Elevated triglyceride levels
  • Fatigue and/or tiredness

Digestive tract 

  • Bleeding
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Incontinence
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain in the belly

Liver disease

  • Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
  • Abdominal pain and swelling
  • Swelling in the legs and ankles
  • Itchy skin
  • Dark urine color
  • Pale stool color, or bloody or tar-colored stool
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting

 Leukemia

  • Fever or chills
  • Persistent fatigue, weakness
  • Frequent or severe infections
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
  • Easy bleeding or bruising
  • Recurrent nosebleeds
  • Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)

Hypothyroidism 

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Intolerance to cold
  • Muscle aches and cramps
  • Constipation
  • Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
  • Poor appetite
  • Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)

Chronic Stress

  • Low energy
  • Headaches
  • Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea
  • Aches, pains, and tense muscles
  • Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
  • Insomnia
  • Frequent colds and infections
  • Loss of sexual desire and/or ability

Lymph node inflammation 

  • tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin
  • upper respiratory symptoms, such as a fever, runny nose, or sore throat
  • limb swelling, which could indicate lymphatic system blockage
  • night sweats

Chronic fatigue

  • Fatigue
  • Loss of memory or concentration
  • Sore throat
  • Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
  • Unexplained muscle or joint pain
  • Headaches
  • Unrefreshing sleep
  • Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise.

Food poisoning

  • Upset stomach
  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever

Parasites

The most common symptoms and signs of intestinal parasites include:

  • Digestive problems including unexplained constipation, diarrhea, or persistent gas
  • Skin problems including unexplained rashes, eczema, or hives
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of satiation after meals
  • Constant hunger
  • Teeth grinding during sleep
  • Anxiety
  • Itchy skin
  • Yeast infections
  • Loss of appetite
  • Iron deficiency
  • Itching of the anus or vagina

In home health support services – IHSS Programs

 

IHSS Programs

There are 4 IHSS programs:

  1. The IHSS Residual (IHSS-R) Program is for people who are not eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal. It provides a maximum of 283 hours of services per month for people with severe disabilities and a maximum of 195 hours for people with disabilities that are not severe.
  1. The Personal Care Services Program (PCSP) is for people withfull-scope Medi-Cal who are:
    • Adults who get care services from a parent, or
    • Adults who don’t have a spouse to provide services, or
    • Children under 18 who don’t have a parent to provide services.

Severely and non-severely disabled people can get up to 283 hours of services per month, including protective supervision.

  1. The IHSS Plus Option (IPO) Program is for people who get services from a spouse or parent (for people under age 18), or who get restaurant meal allowance or advance pay. The program provides a maximum of 195 to 283 hours of services per month, depending on the severity of the impairment.
  2. The Community First Choice Option (CFCO) Program is an alternative for PCSP and IPO recipients. CFCO provides home and community-based attendant services and supports, including help with household chores, personal care services, paramedical services, and protective supervision. Severely and non-severely disabled people can get up to 283 hours of services per month, including protective supervision.

Hours per Week for Services

There are limits on how many IHSS hours can be used for certain services.

Service

Maximum Hours

Exceptions
IHSS Service Limits

Domestic chores

6 hours per month

Children usually are not eligible for IHSS domestic chores

Laundry services

1 hour per week

1.5 hours if you have to use a laundromat

Food shopping

1 hour per week

Other shopping and errands

.5 hours per week

For more information about these service limits, see the IHSS fact sheet on Functional Index Rankings and Hourly Task Guidelines.

Note: If you can show that you need more hours than what is listed above, you may qualify to get it. You must tell your IHSS worker about this additional need during the needs assessment process.

Protective supervision hours will be provided for up to 195 hours per month or 283 hours, depending on the severity of the impairment and the person’s IHSS program.

IHSS for Children

If you’re a child under age 18, you can get IHSS in different ways, depending on your living situation.

If you live with at least one parent, you can pay someone other than your parent to provide IHSS if:

  • Your parents are absent because of employment, education, or training for vocational purposes.
  • Your parents are physically or mentally unable to perform the needed services
  • Your parents are absent because of ongoing medical, dental or other health-related treatment, or
  • A combination of the above.
  • Note: If your parents must be absent to go shopping, do other essential errands, or take care of your siblings, you can pay another person for IHSS for up to 8 hours per week.

If you live with at least one parent, your parent can be paid to do IHSS if:

  • Your parent has no full-time employment or can’t get full-time employment because of the need to provide you with IHSS; and
  • No other suitable provider is available.
  • Note: If you don’t get the IHSS your parent is supposed to provide, you may require inappropriate out-of-home placement. That means you wouldn’t live in your own home with your parent anymore.

If you live with both parents, one of your parents can be paid to do IHSS only when:

  • Your other parent cannot provide the services because they are working, getting an education, or are physically or mentally unable to provide the services.
    • If your other parent cannot provide services because they are working or getting an education, the parent providing the services can only get paid for them during the hours when the other parent is working or studying.

IHSS in the Workplace

You can use IHSS personal care services to help you get, keep, or return to work. IHSS that can be performed in the workplace includes meal preparation and cleanup, personal care services (except routine bed baths), and paramedical services. IHSS hours cannot be used for assistance with college courses or vocational training.

To use IHSS personal assistance hours at the workplace, you must first contact your IHSS worker and specify the number of hours and services you need.

Note: You can request to transfer IHSS hours to the workplace but you cannot request additional hours specifically for use at the workplace.

Example

You currently get 80 hours of IHSS for use at your home. You request 20 hours of service for use at your workplace. Your caseworker may approve those 20 hours, but if that happens, you will only get 60 hours of IHSS at home.

Long-Term Care Insurance , get them when you are in your 40s

Long-Term Care at Calpers

Long-term care (LTC) coverage helps pay for the high cost of care when you need assistance with the activities of daily living. CalPERS LTC is an optional, employee-paid benefit available to all current and former members (including retirees) and their eligible family members, including:

  • Children and siblings between the ages of 18 and 79
  • Parents
  • Parents-in-law
  • Spouses
  • And many additional relatives

Visit the CalPERS LTC website to:

  • Apply*
  • Customize a plan and get a quote
  • Learn about the cost of care
  • Log in to or register your account

*Eligible family members can apply for CalPERS LTC, even if the active member or retiree does not have coverage.

Contact CalPERS Long-Term Care

Contact CalPERS LTC for questions about:

Existing Coverage
(800) 982-1775

Purchasing New Coverage
(800) 908-9119

Group Long Term Care

Unum no longer markets the sale of new group or individual policies for long term care (LTC) insurance. But if you have Unum LTC coverage, rest assured: We are committed to all current policyholders — now and in the future — with the same benefits, services and support for a period of long term care.

The New York State Partnership for Long Term Care(NYSPLTC) is a special Department of Health program combining private long term care insurance with Medicaid Extended Coverage (MEC). The NYSPLTC helps New Yorkersprepare for the possibility of needing nursing home care, assisted living care or home care.

The Top Ten Long-Term Care Insurance Companies
  • CLTC Insurance Services
  • ACSIA Partners
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • New York Life
  • MassMutual
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Genworth Financial
  • TransAmerica Long–Term Care

Note:

In the bay area, if you do not own a real estate property, try applying for In Home Health Support Services. The county pays $15 per hour for caregivers for homebound seniors.

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