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Subulura eliseae sp. n. (Ascaridida: Subuluroidea), a parasite of Marmosa spp. from Amazon rainforest, Brazil. J Helminthol 2022; 96:e60. [PMID: 35942907 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x22000244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The parasite biodiversity of mouse opossums in Brazil remains incompletely explored. We describe a new species of Subulura (Ascaridida: Subuluroidea) from the large intestine of the white-bellied woolly mouse opossum, Marmosa constantiae, based on the results of light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also partially sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (MT-CO1) gene of the new species, using molecular phylogenetic analyses to determine its relationships within the Subuluroidea superfamily. As molecular data on subuluroid species are extremely limited, few inferences could be drawn from our phylogenies. Our SEM observations showed the detailed morphology of the cephalic extremity, precloacal pseudo-sucker, caudal papillae, phasmids and vulva. Subulura eliseae sp. n. differs from the other four Subulura parasites species of marsupials by the number of caudal papillae and the structure dimensions, and size of the spicule. Moreover, S. eliseae sp. n. has ten pairs of caudal papillae, which is unique compared to other species. We present morphometric and molecular data on this new species, contributing to future studies on subuluroids.
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Greenawalt D, Yabsley MJ, Williams L, Casalena MJ, Boyd R, Debelak E, Wildlicka H, Phillips E, Wallner-Pendleton E, Dunn P, Brown J. Surveillance for Heterakis spp. in Game Birds and Cage-Free, Floor-Raised Poultry in Pennsylvania. Avian Dis 2020; 64:210-215. [PMID: 32550622 DOI: 10.1637/0005-2086-64.2.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Histomoniasis is a significant disease of gallinaceous birds caused by Histomonas meleagridis. Transmission of this parasite is dependent on use of the cecal nematode Heterakis gallinarum. To define the host range of this nematode, cecal contents from 399 game birds and poultry, representing eight species, were examined for Heterakis spp. The majority of these species (five of eight) were infected with Heterakis nematodes. Heterakis gallinarum was detected in free-ranging wild turkeys (Meleagridis gallopovo), captive-raised ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), chukars (Alectoris chukar), and domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), whereas H. isolonche was found in ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). No Heterakis species were identified in the domestic turkey (Meleagridis gallopovo), American woodcock (Scolopax minor), and dabbling duck (Anas spp.) samples. Genetic characterization indicated that nematodes identified as H. gallinarum were present in two distinct clades. One clade of H. gallinarum sequenced from this study grouped with chicken-derived sequences from other countries. The other group of sequences consisted of a sister clade to a group of parasites morphologically identified as H. isolonche. Currently it is unknown if this group represents a genetic variant of H. gallinarum, a variant of H. isolonche, or a novel species. These results indicate Heterakis infection varies among poultry and game bird species but is common among select gallinaceous species in Pennsylvania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denver Greenawalt
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | | | | | - Robert Boyd
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, Harrisburg, PA 17110
| | - Erin Debelak
- Department of Biology, Gannon University, Erie, PA 16541
| | | | | | - Eva Wallner-Pendleton
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Patricia Dunn
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Justin Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802,
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Losnak DO, Rocha FR, Almeida BS, Batista KZS, Althoff SL, Haupt J, Ruiz LS, Anversa L, Lucheis SB, Paiz LM, Donalisio MR, Richini Pereira VB. Molecular detection of fungi of public health importance in wild animals from Southern Brazil. Mycoses 2018; 61:455-463. [PMID: 29575049 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Some animals have an important relationship with fungal infections, and searching for pathogens in animal samples may be an opportunity for eco-epidemiological research. Since studies involving wildlife are generally restricted, using samples from road kills is an alternative. The aim of this study was to verify whether pathogenic fungi of public health importance occur in wildlife road kills from Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Organ samples (n = 1063) from 297 animals were analysed according to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using universal primers to detect fungi in general and, subsequently, using primers specific to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Cryptococcus spp. There were 102 samples positive for fungal species. Eight samples were positive for P. brasiliensis, three samples were positive for Cryptococcus spp. and one sample had coinfection by these two fungi. No sample was positive for Histoplasma spp. according to the molecular detection. Genetic sequencing allowed the identification of Fungal sp. in 89 samples, Cryptococcus neoformans in two samples and Aspergillus penicillioides in three samples. This study shows the importance of wild animals in the epidemiology of fungal infections and assists in the mapping of pathogen occurrence in a region that was not previously evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora O Losnak
- Department of Tropical Diseases and Imaging Diagnosis, Botucatu Medical School, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francielle R Rocha
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, Center of Regional Laboratories II - Bauru, Center of Biomedical Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Barbara S Almeida
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, Center of Regional Laboratories II - Bauru, Center of Biomedical Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keila Z S Batista
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Blumenau-SC, Brazil
| | - Sérgio L Althoff
- Laboratory of Animal Biology, Department of Natural Sciences, Regional University of Blumenau, Blumenau-SC, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana S Ruiz
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, Center of Regional Laboratories II - Bauru, Center of Biomedical Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laís Anversa
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, Center of Regional Laboratories II - Bauru, Center of Biomedical Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Laís M Paiz
- Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Maria Rita Donalisio
- Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Virginia B Richini Pereira
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, Center of Regional Laboratories II - Bauru, Center of Biomedical Science, São Paulo, Brazil
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Šnábel V, Utsuki D, Kato T, Sunaga F, Ooi HK, Gambetta B, Taira K. Molecular identification of Heterakis spumosa obtained from brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Japan and its infectivity in experimental mice. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3449-55. [PMID: 24997621 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Heterakis spumosa is a nematode of invasive rodents, mainly affiliated with Rattus spp. of Asian origin. Despite the ecological importance and cosmopolitan distribution, little information is available on the genetic characteristics and infectivity to experimental animals of this roundworm. Heterakis isolates obtained from naturally infected brown rats caught in 2007 in the city of Sagamihara, east central Honshu, Japan, and maintained by laboratory passages were subjected to mitochondrial sequence analysis and experimental infection in mice. Sequencing of the cox1 gene revealed that nucleotides of H. spumosa and previously examined Heterakis isolonche isolates from gallinaceous birds in Japan differed by 11.2-12.2% that conforms to the range expected for interspecific differences. The two H. spumosa isolates differed by a single 138T/C non-synonymous substitution in the 393-bp mt sequence. In a dendrogram, the H. spumosa samples formed a subcluster with members of the nematode superfamily Heterakoidea, H. isolonche and Ascaridia galli. In an experimental infection study, ICR, AKR, B10.BR and C57BL/6 mice strains were inoculated with 200 H. spumosa eggs/head and necropsied at 14 and 90 days post-inoculation (DPI) when the number of worms was recorded. Eggs were initially detected in faeces from 32-35 DPI in ICR, AKR and B10.BR mice and the highest mean number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) was 4,800 at 38 DPI, 2,200 at 58 DPI and 800 at 44 and 72 DPI in ICR, AKR and B10.BR mice, respectively. No eggs were observed in faeces of the C57BL/6 mouse strain during the experiment. A similar number of juvenile worms were isolated from all mouse strains at 14 DPI, whereas no adult worms were detected in C57BL/6 mice at 90 DPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viliam Šnábel
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia,
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Richini-Pereira VB, Marson PM, Hayasaka EY, Victoria C, da Silva RC, Langoni H. Molecular detection of Leishmania spp. in road-killed wild mammals in the Central Western area of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2014; 20:27. [PMID: 24963288 PMCID: PMC4068874 DOI: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Road-killed wild animals have been classified as sentinels for detecting such zoonotic pathogens as Leishmania spp., offering new opportunities for epidemiological studies of this infection. Methods This study aimed to evaluate the presence of Leishmania spp. and Leishmania chagasi DNA by PCR in tissue samples (lung, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, mesenteric lymph node and adrenal gland) from 70 road-killed wild animals. Results DNA was detected in tissues of one Cavia aperea (Brazilian guinea pig), five Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox), one Dasypus septemcinctus (seven-banded armadillo), two Didelphis albiventris (white-eared opossum), one Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris (capybara), two Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater), one Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon), two Sphiggurus spinosus (porcupine) and one Tamandua tetradactyla (lesser anteater) from different locations in the Central Western part of São Paulo state. The Leishmania chagasi DNA were confirmed in mesenteric lymph node of one Cerdocyon thous. Results indicated common infection in wild animals. Conclusions The approach employed herein proved useful for detecting the environmental occurrence of Leishmania spp. and L. chagasi, as well as determining natural wild reservoirs and contributing to understand the host-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Bodelão Richini-Pereira
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Pamela Merlo Marson
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Enio Yoshinori Hayasaka
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Cassiano Victoria
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Costa da Silva
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Hélio Langoni
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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Brown DS, Symondson WOC. Sex and age-biased nematode prevalence in reptiles. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:3890-9. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David S. Brown
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
| | - William O. C. Symondson
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
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Sirgel WF, Artigas P, Bargues MD, Mas-Coma S. Life cycle of Renylaima capensis, a brachylaimid trematode of shrews and slugs in South Africa: two-host and three-host transmission modalities suggested by epizootiology and DNA sequencing. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:169. [PMID: 22889081 PMCID: PMC3439694 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The life cycle of the brachylaimid trematode species Renylaima capensis, infecting the urinary system of the shrew Myosorex varius (Mammalia: Soricidae: Crocidosoricinae) in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, South Africa, has been elucidated by a study of its larval stages, epizootiological data in local snails and mammals during a 34-year period, and its verification with mtDNA sequencing. Methods Parasites obtained from dissected animals were mounted in microscope slides for the parasitological study and measured according to standardized methods. The mitochondrial DNA cox1 gene was sequenced by the dideoxy chain-termination method. Results The slugs Ariostralis nebulosa and Ariopelta capensis (Gastropoda: Arionidae) act as specific first and second intermediate hosts, respectively. Branched sporocysts massively develop in A. nebulosa. Intrasporocystic mature cercariae show differentiated gonads, male terminal duct, ventral genital pore, and usually no tail, opposite to Brachylaimidae in which mature cercariae show a germinal primordium and small tail. Unencysted metacercariae, usually brevicaudate, infect the kidney of A. capensis and differ from mature cercariae by only a slightly greater size. The final microhabitats are the kidneys and ureters of the shrews, kidney pelvis and calyces in light infections and also kidney medulla and cortex in heavy infections. Sporocysts, cercariae, metacercariae and adults proved to belong to R. capensis by analysis of a 437-bp-long cox1 fragment, which was identical except for three mutations in metacercariae, of which only one silent. Epizootiological studies showed usual sporocyst infection in A. nebulosa and very rare metacercarial infection in A. capensis, which does not agree with high prevalences and intensities in the shrews. Conclusions The presence of monotesticular adult forms and larval prevalences and intensities observed suggest that R. capensis may use two transmission strategies, a two-host life cycle by predation of A. nebulosa harbouring intrasporocystic cercariae may be the normal pattern, whereas a second mollusc host is just starting to be introduced. In shrews, a tissue-traversing, intraorganic migration followed by an interorganic migration to reach and penetrate the outer surface of either of both kidneys should occur. For first slug infection, the fluke takes advantage of the phenomenon that M. varius always urinate during defaecation. Consequently, in Brachylaimidae, the second intermediate mollusc host should evolutionarily be seen as a last addition to the cycle and their present adult stage microhabitat restricted to digestive tract and related organs as a loss of the tissue-traversing capacity of the metacercaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm F Sirgel
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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Abstract
Since 1977, >2000 research papers described attempts to detect, identify and/or quantify parasites, or disease organisms carried by ecto-parasites, using DNA-based tests and 148 reviews of the topic were published. Despite this, only a few DNA-based tests for parasitic diseases are routinely available, and most of these are optional tests used occasionally in disease diagnosis. Malaria, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and cryptosporidiosis diagnosis may be assisted by DNA-based testing in some countries, but there are very few cases where the detection of veterinary parasites is assisted by DNA-based tests. The diagnoses of some bacterial (e.g. lyme disease) and viral diseases (e.g. tick borne encephalitis) which are transmitted by ecto-parasites more commonly use DNA-based tests, and research developing tests for these species makes up almost 20% of the literature. Other important uses of DNA-based tests are for epidemiological and risk assessment, quality control for food and water, forensic diagnosis and in parasite biology research. Some DNA-based tests for water-borne parasites, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, are used in routine checks of water treatment, but forensic and food-testing applications have not been adopted in routine practice. Biological research, including epidemiological research, makes the widest use of DNA-based diagnostics, delivering enhanced understanding of parasites and guidelines for managing parasitic diseases. Despite the limited uptake of DNA-based tests to date, there is little doubt that they offer great potential to not only detect, identify and quantify parasites, but also to provide further information important for the implementation of parasite control strategies. For example, variant sequences within species of parasites and other organisms can be differentiated by tests in a manner similar to genetic testing in medicine or livestock breeding. If an association between DNA sequence and phenotype has been demonstrated, then qualities such as drug resistance, strain divergence, virulence, and origin of isolates could be inferred by DNA-based tests. No such tests are in clinical or commercial use in parasitology and few tests are available for other organisms. Why have DNA-based tests not had a bigger impact in veterinary and human medicine? To explore this question, technological, biological, economic and sociological factors must be considered. Additionally, a realistic expectation of research progress is needed. DNA-based tests could enhance parasite management in many ways, but patience, persistence and dedication will be needed to achieve this goal.
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