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Rivory P, Lee R, Šlapeta J. Isolate-specific rat brain transcriptional responses to rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). Pathog Dis 2025; 83:ftaf003. [PMID: 39971741 PMCID: PMC11895509 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftaf003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2025] [Accepted: 02/17/2025] [Indexed: 02/21/2025] Open
Abstract
The rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) is an invasive parasite of rats that in accidental hosts, such as dogs and humans, causes eosinophilic meningitis. In Australia, only two distinct rat lungworm cox1 haplotypes have been detected in clinically affected dogs, with haplotype Ac13 implicated in most cases. Using locally sourced isolates, we enquired whether the brain migrating larvae elicit different host response in its natural host. We examined brain transcriptome, faecal shedding rates, and adult worm of A. cantonensis isolates representing two distinct cox1 haplotypes, SYD.1 and Ac13 (represented by isolate SYD.2), in experimentally infected Wistar rats. For SYD.1-infected rats, only one differentially expressed gene (DEG) was upregulated in the compared to controls. In contrast, the transcriptome of SYD.2-infected rats included 100 DEGs, with enrichment of functional terms related to immune response, neuroactivity, and signalling. Faecal shedding did not differ between SYD.1- and SYD.2-infected rats, but adult worm burdens were higher in the SYD.1 group. The increased immune response in SYD.2-infected rats provides evidence that there is strain specific virulence that is pronounced in its natural host. This study provides initial parasite-specific evidence explaining why clinically affected dogs are more frequently presented with A. cantonensis haplotype Ac13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Rivory
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Rogan Lee
- NSW Health Pathology, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Lab Services, Level 3 ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jan Šlapeta
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Low SY, Lau SF, Ahmad NI, Sharma RSK, Rosli MZ, Mohd-Taib FS, Ajat MMM, Kamaludeen J, Syed Hussain SS, Wan KL, Salleh A, Aziz NAA. A cross-sectional study of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis in rats and gastropod hosts from recreational parks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Detection, risk factors and pathology. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:636-646. [PMID: 37403513 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus malaysiensis is a potential zoonotic parasite, which reported to co-occur with A. cantonensis in human cerebrospinal fluid. It is a heteroxenous nematode that primarily develops through the early larval stages in gastropods and attains sexual maturity within rats. This study was conducted to determine the host species responsible for the reservoir of A. malaysiensis and investigate the risk factor for transmission among the hosts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sampling was conducted in six recreational parks. The rats were trapped alive using steel wire traps with bait, while the gastropods were collected by active searching. The rats were euthanized and dissected to collect any adult worms observed. The molecular detection of A. malaysiensis was performed by PCR on gastropod tissue samples. Biotic and landscape factors were recorded for risk factor analysis. In total, 82 rats and 330 gastropods were collected throughout the study. Overall, 3.64% of gastropods and 32.9% of rats were infected with A. malaysiensis. Rattus tiomanicus (Malayan wood rat) and Parmarion martensi (Yellow-shelled semi-slug) were found as important hosts for A. malaysiensis. Host species, sampling site and macrohabitat type are risk factors associated with the prevalence of A. malaysiensis infection in rats. For gastropods, host species and sampling site are risk factors that correlate with the parasite detection. In total, 128 adult A. malaysiensis were recovered from the infected rats. The mean intensity of infection with adult A. malaysiensis was 4.65 for Rattus rattus complex and 4.90 for R. tiomanicus. Adult worms were found in the pulmonary artery or right ventricle, while eggs and first-stage larvae were found in capillaries of the caudal lung lobe. Infected lungs showed extravasated red blood cells in the alveolar spaces. The pulmonary arteries in the infected lung lobe were thickened. Kepong Metropolitan Park is the hotspot area for A. malaysiensis in Kuala Lumpur. These results provide essential information for public health officials to develop targeted interventions to reduce the transmission of A. malaysiensis in urban areas, particularly in recreational parks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suey Yee Low
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Seng Fong Lau
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Indah Ahmad
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Reuben Sunil Kumar Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zahin Rosli
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Farah Shafawati Mohd-Taib
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Mokrish Md Ajat
- Department of Veterinary Pre-clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Juriah Kamaludeen
- Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu, Malaysia
| | - Sharifah Salmah Syed Hussain
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Kiew-Lian Wan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Annas Salleh
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz
- Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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3
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Chen KY, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Chiu CH, Wang LC. 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde enhance survival of mouse astrocytes treated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis young adults excretory/secretory products. Biomed J 2020; 44:S258-S266. [PMID: 35300947 PMCID: PMC9068576 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Methods Results Conclusions
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4
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Chen KY, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Wang LC. Excretory/secretory products of Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larvae induce endoplasmic reticulum stress via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in mouse astrocytes. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:317. [PMID: 32552877 PMCID: PMC7301976 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04189-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important food-borne zoonotic parasite. Humans are non-permissive hosts, and this parasite develops into fifth-stage larvae (L5) in the brain and subarachnoid cavity and then induces eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Excretory/secretory products (ESPs) are valuable targets for the investigation of host-parasite interactions. These products contain a wide range of molecules for penetrating defensive barriers and avoiding the immune response of the host. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been found to be associated with a wide range of parasitic infections and inflammation. ER stress can increase cell survival via the activation of downstream signalling. However, the mechanisms of ER stress in A. cantonensis infection have not yet been clarified. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ER stress in astrocytes after treatment with the ESPs of A. cantonensis L5. RESULTS The results demonstrated that A. cantonensis infection activated astrocytes in the mouse hippocampus and induced the expression of ER stress-related molecules. Next, the data showed that the expression of ER stress-related molecules and the Ca2+ concentration were significantly increased in activated astrocytes after treatment with the ESPs of L5 of A. cantonensis. Ultimately, we found that ESPs induced GRP78 expression via the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling pathway. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that in astrocytes, the ESPs of A. cantonensis L5 induce ER stress and that the Shh signalling pathway plays an important role in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yao Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Ju Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ju Cheng
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yuan Jhan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Lian-Chen Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. .,Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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5
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Chen KY, Cheng CJ, Cheng CC, Jhan KY, Chen YJ, Wang LC. The excretory/secretory products of fifth-stage larval Angiostrongylus cantonensis induces autophagy via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in mouse brain astrocytes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008290. [PMID: 32479527 PMCID: PMC7289448 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiostrongyliasis is induced by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis and leads to eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in humans. Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) are important investigation targets for studying the relationship between hosts and nematodes. These products assist worms in penetrating the blood-brain barrier and avoiding the host immune response. Autophagy is a catabolic process that is responsible for digesting cytoplasmic organelles, proteins, and lipids and removing them through lysosomes. This process is essential to cell survival and homeostasis during nutritional deficiency, cell injury and stress. In this study, we investigated autophagy induction upon treatment with the ESPs of the fifth-stage larvae (L5) of A. cantonensis and observed the relationship between autophagy and the Shh pathway. First, the results showed that A. cantonensis infection induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and pathological changes in the brain. Moreover, A. cantonensis L5 ESPs stimulated autophagosome formation and the expression of autophagy molecules, such as LC3B, Beclin, and p62. The data showed that upon ESPs treatment, rapamycin elevated cell viability through the activation of the autophagy mechanism in astrocytes. Finally, we found that ESPs induced the activation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway and that the expression of autophagy molecules was increased through the Shh signaling pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that A. cantonensis L5 ESPs stimulate autophagy through the Shh signaling pathway and that autophagy has a protective effect in astrocytes. In helminthes, Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) contains a wide range of molecules, including proteins, lipids, glycans, and nucleic acids, that assist in the penetration of host defensive barriers, reduction of oxidative stress, and avoid the host immune attack. It has been known as a key factor for parasite development, including feeding, invasion and molting. Therefore, ESPs is a valuable target for the investigation of the host-parasite relationships. However, only a few researches about the function of Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis ESPs have been verified to date. Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis, a blood-feeding nematode, and it is an important causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in human. Recent our studies have demonstrated that the A. cantonensis ESPs can induce oxidative stress, apoptosis, and immune response. In this study, we will use a mouse astrocytes as a model to investigate the signaling mechanisms of autophagy induction by ESPs treatment. First, the Microarray, Western blotting, and Transmission electron microscopy data demonstrated that A. cantonensis ESPs can induce autophagy generation in astrocytes. Next, ESPs-induced autophagy was activated via Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, and it has a protective potential for astrocytes. These finding will provide new insights into the mechanisms and effects of the A. cantonensis ESPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yao Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ju Cheng
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chieh Cheng
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yuan Jhan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ju Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Lian-Chen Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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6
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Zhou H, Chen Z, Limpanont Y, Hu Y, Ma Y, Huang P, Dekumyoy P, Zhou M, Cheng Y, Lv Z. Necroptosis and Caspase-2-Mediated Apoptosis of Astrocytes and Neurons, but Not Microglia, of Rat Hippocampus and Parenchyma Caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis Infection. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3126. [PMID: 32038563 PMCID: PMC6989440 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the roundworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the main cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide. The underlying molecular basis of the various pathological outcomes in permissive and non-permissive hosts infected with A. cantonensis remains poorly defined. In the present study, the histology of neurological disorders in the central nervous system (CNS) of infected rats was assessed by using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot and immunofluorescence (IF) were used in evolutions of the transcription and translation levels of the apoptosis-, necroptosis-, autophagy-, and pyroptosis-related genes. The distribution of apoptotic and necroptotic cells in the rat hippocampus and parenchyma was further detected using flow cytometry, and the features of the ultrastructure of the cells were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The inflammatory response upon CNS infection with A. cantonensis evolved, as characterized by the accumulation of a small number of inflammatory cells under the thickened meninges, which peaked at 21 days post-infection (dpi) and returned to normal by 35 dpi. The transcription levels and translation of caspase-2, caspase-8, RIP1 and RIP3 increased significantly at 21 and 28 dpi but decreased sharply at 35 dpi compared to those in the normal control group. However, the changes in the expression of caspase-1, caspase-3, caspase-11, Beclin-1 and LC3B were not obvious, suggesting that apoptosis and necroptosis but not autophagy or pyroptosis occurred in the brains of infected animals at 21 and 28 dpi. The results of RT-qPCR, western blot analysis, IF, flow cytometry and TEM further illustrated that necroptosis and caspase-2-mediated apoptosis occurred in astrocytes and neurons but not in microglia in the parenchyma and hippocampus of infected animals. This study provides the first evidence that neuronal and astrocytic necroptosis and caspase-2-mediated apoptosis are induced by A. cantonensis infection in the parenchymal and hippocampal regions of rats at 21 and 28 dpi but these processes are negligible at 35 dpi. These findings enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of A. cantonensis infection and provide new insights into therapeutic approaches targeting the occurrence of cell death in astrocytes and neurons in infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Zhou
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yanin Limpanont
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yue Hu
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yubin Ma
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Paron Dekumyoy
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Minyu Zhou
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yixin Cheng
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhiyue Lv
- Joint Program of Pathobiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
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7
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Chen KY, Lu PJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Yeh SC, Wang LC. Proteomic analysis of excretory-secretory products from young adults of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e180556. [PMID: 31241649 PMCID: PMC6594673 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongyliasis is caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus
cantonensis and can lead to eosinophilic meningitis and
meningoencephalitis in humans. The young adult worms play central pathogenic
roles in the central nervous system (CNS); however, the underlying mechanism
is unclear. Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) are good investigation
targets for studying the relationship between a host and its parasite. OBJECTIVES We aimed to profile, identify, and characterise the proteins in the ESPs of
A. cantonensis young adults. METHODS The ESPs of young adult worms were collected from culture medium after
incubation ranging from 24 to 96 h. Proteomic and bioinformatics analyses
were performed to characterise the ESPs. FINDINGS A total of 51 spots were identified, and the highly expressed proteins
included two protein disulphide isomerases, one calreticulin, and three
uncharacterised proteins. Subsequently, approximately 254 proteins were
identified in the ESPs of A. cantonensis young adults via
liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, and these were
further classified according to their characteristics and biological
functions. Finally, we identified the immunoreactive proteins from a
reference map of ESPs from A. cantonensis young adults.
Approximately eight proteins were identified, including a protein disulphide
isomerase, a putative aspartic protease, annexin, and five uncharacterised
proteins. The study established and identified protein reference maps for
the ESPs of A. cantonensis young adults. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The identified proteins may be potential targets for the development of
diagnostic or therapeutic agents for human angiostrongyliasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yao Chen
- China Medical University, School of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jhen Lu
- Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ju Cheng
- Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yuan Jhan
- Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chien Yeh
- Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Lian-Chen Wang
- Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Molecular Infectious Disease Research Centre, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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8
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Lello J, McClure SJ, Tyrrell K, Viney ME. Predicting the effects of parasite co-infection across species boundaries. Proc Biol Sci 2019. [PMID: 29540516 PMCID: PMC5879626 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It is normal for hosts to be co-infected by parasites. Interactions among co-infecting species can have profound consequences, including changing parasite transmission dynamics, altering disease severity and confounding attempts at parasite control. Despite the importance of co-infection, there is currently no way to predict how different parasite species may interact with one another, nor the consequences of those interactions. Here, we demonstrate a method that enables such prediction by identifying two nematode parasite groups based on taxonomy and characteristics of the parasitological niche. From an understanding of the interactions between the two defined groups in one host system (wild rabbits), we predict how two different nematode species, from the same defined groups, will interact in co-infections in a different host system (sheep), and then we test this experimentally. We show that, as predicted, in co-infections, the blood-feeding nematode Haemonchus contortus suppresses aspects of the sheep immune response, thereby facilitating the establishment and/or survival of the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis; and that the T. colubriformis-induced immune response negatively affects H. contortus This work is, to our knowledge, the first to use empirical data from one host system to successfully predict the specific outcome of a different co-infection in a second host species. The study therefore takes the first step in defining a practical framework for predicting interspecific parasite interactions in other animal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Lello
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK .,Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trentino 38010, Italy.,Division of Animal, Food and Health Sciences, CSIRO, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - Susan J McClure
- Division of Animal, Food and Health Sciences, CSIRO, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - Kerri Tyrrell
- Division of Animal, Food and Health Sciences, CSIRO, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - Mark E Viney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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9
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Yan LZ, Shi XM, Zu YW, Shen YY, Chen XX, Zhao MJ, Li XP, Yan BL, Huang HC. The opposite roles of PAS-5 and Galectin-1 in immune response during the early infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:318. [PMID: 29843794 PMCID: PMC5975691 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2894-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a human zoonotic nematode parasite. Our previous studies found that PAS-5 and Galectin-1 (Gal-1) proteins of A. cantonensis could be strongly recognized by sera from mice infected with A. cantonensis. In this study, we further evaluated the potential roles of these two proteins in the induction of immune response in mice. METHODS Mice were immunized with recombinant PAS-5 or Gal-1 and then challenged with 30 infective A. cantonensis larvae following the last immunization. We then examined the infected mice for changes in serum antibodies and cytokines by ELISA, CD4+ T cells and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) by flow cytometry, and tissue damage severity by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS Compared with control mice, the PAS-5-immunized mice exhibited increased levels of serum antibodies and cytokines (except for IL-10) at different time points post-infection. PAS-5 immunization promoted significant proliferation of CD4+ T cells, and caused more damage in the brain tissue. Vaccination with Gal-1 inhibited the production of antibodies (except for IgG1) and IFN-γ, but promoted the expression of IL-4 and IL-10. Gal-1 immunization results in significant increases in the levels of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs, and mild inflammatory changes. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings show that PAS-5 enhances, but Gal-1 inhibits the immune response in the early stage of A. cantonensis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Zhu Yan
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
- Clinical Laboratory of Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050082 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Meng Shi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Wen Zu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Shen
- School of the Second Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi-Xi Chen
- School of the First Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng-Jing Zhao
- School of the First Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xing-Pan Li
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bao-Long Yan
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui-Cong Huang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035 People’s Republic of China
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Chen KY, Wang LC. Stimulation of IL-1β and IL-6 through NF-κB and sonic hedgehog-dependent pathways in mouse astrocytes by excretory/secretory products of fifth-stage larval Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:445. [PMID: 28950910 PMCID: PMC5615811 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2385-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Previous studies have shown that the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway may reduce cell apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative stress in A. cantonensis infection. In this study, we investigated the relationship between cytokine secretion and Shh pathway activation after treatment with excretory/secretory products (ESP) of fifth-stage larval A. cantonensis (L5). RESULTS The results showed that IL-1β and IL-6 levels in mouse astrocytes were increased. Moreover, ESP stimulated the protein expression of Shh pathway molecules, including Shh, Ptch, Smo and Gli-1, and induced IL-1β and IL-6 secretion. The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) plays an important role in inflammation, and it regulates the expression of proinflammatory genes, including cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1β and TNF-α. After ESP treatment, NF-κB induced IL-1β and IL-6 secretion in astrocytes by activating the Shh signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the data presented in this study showed that ESP of fifth-stage larval A. cantonensis stimulates astrocyte activation and cytokine generation through NF-κB and the Shh signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yao Chen
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Lian-Chen Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. .,Molecular Infectious Disease Research Centre, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Angiostrongylus cantonensis: a review of its distribution, molecular biology and clinical significance as a human pathogen. Parasitology 2016; 143:1087-118. [PMID: 27225800 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016000652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a metastrongyloid nematode found widely in the Asia-Pacific region, and the aetiological agent of angiostrongyliasis; a disease characterized by eosinophilic meningitis. Rattus rats are definitive hosts of A. cantonensis, while intermediate hosts include terrestrial and aquatic molluscs. Humans are dead-end hosts that usually become infected upon ingestion of infected molluscs. A presumptive diagnosis is often made based on clinical features, a history of mollusc consumption, eosinophilic pleocytosis in cerebral spinal fluid, and advanced imaging such as computed tomography. Serological tests are available for angiostrongyliasis, though many tests are still under development. While there is no treatment consensus, therapy often includes a combination of anthelmintics and corticosteroids. Angiostrongyliasis is relatively rare, but is often associated with morbidity and sometimes mortality. Recent reports suggest the parasites' range is increasing, leading to fatalities in regions previously considered Angiostrongylus-free, and sometimes, delayed diagnosis in newly invaded regions. Increased awareness of angiostrongyliasis would facilitate rapid diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes. This paper summarizes knowledge on the parasites' life cycle, clinical aspects and epidemiology. The molecular biology of Angiostrongylus spp. is also discussed. Attention is paid to the significance of angiostrongyliasis in Australia, given the recent severe cases reported from the Sydney region.
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Long Y, Cao B, Yu L, Tukayo M, Feng C, Wang Y, Luo D. Angiostrongylus cantonensis cathepsin B-like protease (Ac-cathB-1) is involved in host gut penetration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 22:37. [PMID: 26682577 PMCID: PMC4684300 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2015037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although the global spread of the emerging zoonosis, human angiostrongyliasis, has attracted increasing attention, understanding of specific gene function has been impeded by the inaccessibility of genetic manipulation of the pathogen nematode causing this disease, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Many parasitic proteases play key roles in host-parasite interactions, but those of A. cantonensis are always expressed as the inactive form in prokaryotic expression systems, thereby impeding functional studies. Hence, a lentiviral system that drives secreted expression of target genes fused to a Myc-His tag was used to obtain recombinant Ac-cathB-1 with biological activity. Although this class of proteases was always reported to function in nutrition and immune evasion in parasitic nematodes, recombinant Ac-cathB-1 was capable of hydrolysis of fibronectin and laminin as well as the extracellular matrix of IEC-6 monolayer, so that the intercellular space of the IEC-6 monolayer increased 5.15 times as compared to the control, while the shape of the adherent cells partly rounded up. This suggests a probable role for this protease in intestinal epithelial penetration. The inhibition of Ac-cathB-1 enzymatic activity with antiserum partly suppressed larval penetration ability in the isolated intestine. Thus, an effective system for heterologous expression of parasite proteases is presented for studying gene function in A. cantonensis; and Ac-cathB-1 was related to larval penetration ability in the host small intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Long
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Binbin Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Liang Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Meks Tukayo
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Chonglv Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Yinan Wang
- Medical College, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
| | - Damin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China - State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Fujian 361102, P.R. China
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13
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Yong HS, Eamsobhana P, Lim PE, Razali R, Aziz FA, Rosli NSM, Poole-Johnson J, Anwar A. Draft genome of neurotropic nematode parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, causative agent of human eosinophilic meningitis. Acta Trop 2015; 148:51-7. [PMID: 25910624 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a bursate nematode parasite that causes eosinophilic meningitis (or meningoencephalitis) in humans in many parts of the world. The genomic data from A. cantonensis will form a useful resource for comparative genomic and chemogenomic studies to aid the development of diagnostics and therapeutics. We have sequenced, assembled and annotated the genome of A. cantonensis. The genome size is estimated to be ∼260 Mb, with 17,280 genomic scaffolds, 91X coverage, 81.45% for complete and 93.95% for partial score based on CEGMA analysis of genome completeness. The number of predicted genes of ≥300 bp was 17,482. A total of 7737 predicted protein-coding genes of ≥50 amino acids were identified in the assembled genome. Among the proteins of known function, kinases are the most abundant followed by transferases. The draft genome contains 34 excretory-secretory proteins (ES), a minimum of 44 Nematode Astacin (NAS) metalloproteases, 12 Homeobox (HOX) genes, and 30 neurotransmitters. The assembled genome size (260 Mb) is larger than those of Pristionchus pacificus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Necator americanus, Caenorhabditis briggsae, Trichinella spiralis, Brugia malayi and Loa loa, but smaller than Haemonchus contortus and Ascaris suum. The repeat content (25%) is similar to H. contortus. The GC content (41.17%) is lower compared to P. pacificus (42.7%) and H. contortus (43.1%) but higher compared to C. briggsae (37.69%), A. suum (37.9%) and N. americanus (40.2%) while the scaffold N50 is 42,191. This draft genome will facilitate the understanding of many unresolved issues on the parasite and the disorder it causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Sen Yong
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Praphathip Eamsobhana
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
| | - Phaik-Eem Lim
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rozaimi Razali
- Sengenics HIR, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Arif Anwar
- Sengenics HIR, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Garcia JS, dos Santos Bonfim TC, Junior AM, Tunholi VM, Tunholi-Alves VM, Mota EM, Simões RDO, Santana AC, Hooper C, Pinheiro J, Bóia MN. Hematological and histopathological changes in Rattus norvegicus (Wistar) experimentally infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935). Parasitol Int 2014; 63:631-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Wang LC, Chen KY, Chang SH, Chung LY, Gan RCR, Cheng CJ, Tang P. Transcriptome profiling of the fifth-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis by next-generation sequencing. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3193-202. [PMID: 23828188 PMCID: PMC3742962 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3495-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important zoonotic nematode. It is the causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. However, information of this parasite at the genomic level is very limited. In the present study, the transcriptomic profiles of the fifth-stage larvae (L5) of A. cantonensis were investigated by next-generation sequencing (NGS). In the NGS database established from the larvae isolated from the brain of Sprague–Dawley rats, 31,487 unique genes with a mean length of 617 nucleotides were assembled. These genes were found to have a 46.08 % significant similarity to Caenorhabditis elegans by BLASTx. They were then compared with the expressed sequence tags of 18 other nematodes, and significant matches of 36.09–59.12 % were found. Among these genes, 3,338 were found to participate in 124 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. These pathways included 1,514 metabolisms, 846 genetic information processing, 358 environmental information processing, 264 cellular processes, and 91 organismal systems. Analysis of 30,816 sequences with the gene ontology database indicated that their annotations included 5,656 biological processes (3,364 cellular processes, 3,061 developmental processes, and 3,191 multicellular organismal processes), 7,218 molecular functions (4,597 binding and 3,084 catalytic activities), and 4,719 cellular components (4,459 cell parts and 4,466 cells). Moreover, stress-related genes (112 heat stress and 33 oxidation stress) and genes for proteases (159) were not uncommon. This study is the first NGS-based study to set up a transcriptomic database of A. cantonensis L5. The results provide new insights into the survival, development, and host–parasite interactions of this blood-feeding nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian-chen Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan.
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Monte TCC, Simões RO, Oliveira APM, Novaes CF, Thiengo SC, Silva AJ, Estrela PC, Maldonado A. Phylogenetic relationship of the Brazilian isolates of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda: Metastrongylidae) employing mitochondrial COI gene sequence data. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:248. [PMID: 23130987 PMCID: PMC3514143 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis can cause eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. This nematode's main definitive hosts are rodents and its intermediate hosts are snails. This parasite was first described in China and currently is dispersed across several Pacific islands, Asia, Australia, Africa, some Caribbean islands and most recently in the Americas. Here, we report the genetic variability among A. cantonensis isolates from different geographical locations in Brazil using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. METHODS The isolates of A. cantonensis were obtained from distinct geographical locations of Brazil. Genomic DNAs were extracted, amplified by polymerase reaction, purified and sequenced. A partial sequence of COI gene was determined to assess their phylogenetic relationship. RESULTS The sequences of A. cantonensis were monophyletic. We identified a distinct clade that included all isolates of A. cantonensis from Brazil and Asia based on eight distinct haplotypes (ac1, ac2, ac3, ac4, ac5, ac6, ac7 and ac8) from a previous study. Interestingly, the Brazilian haplotype ac5 is clustered with isolates from Japan, and the Brazilian haplotype ac8 from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Pará and Pernambuco states formed a distinct clade. There is a divergent Brazilian haplotype, which we named ac9, closely related to Chinese haplotype ac6 and Japanese haplotype ac7. CONCLUSION The genetic variation observed among Brazilian isolates supports the hypothesis that the appearance of A. cantonensis in Brazil is likely a result of multiple introductions of parasite-carrying rats, transported on ships due to active commerce with Africa and Asia during the European colonization period. The rapid spread of the intermediate host, Achatina fulica, also seems to have contributed to the dispersion of this parasite and the infection of the definitive host in different Brazilian regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tainá C C Monte
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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OuYang L, Wei J, Wu Z, Zeng X, Li Y, Jia Y, Ma Y, Zhan M, Lei W. Differences of larval development and pathological changes in permissive and nonpermissive rodent hosts for Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. Parasitol Res 2012; 111:1547-57. [PMID: 22777701 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2995-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a neurotrophic and pulmonary parasite which causes severe neuropathological damages by invading and developing in the central nervous system (CNS). Nonpermissive host with A. cantonensis infection appeared to have more serious neurologic symptoms, and there is still not much knowledge about the host-parasite interrelationship in different hosts. We investigated and compared the larval size, recovery rate, distribution, and the severity of pathologic injuries in the CNS of both permissive host (e.g., rats) and nonpermissive hosts (e.g., mice). In present study, mice infected with A. cantonensis showed higher worm recovery rate in late-stage infection and smaller size of intracranial larvae as compared to the infected rats. Intracranial larvae mainly aggregated on cerebral surface of infected rats but on surface of cerebellum and brainstem in mice. Hemorrhage and tissue edema on brain surface caused by worm migration appeared earlier and severer in infected mice than in rats. Neuropathological examination revealed that injuries induced by A. cantonensis in brain parenchyma included hemorrhage, vascular dilatation, focal necrosis with neuronal loss, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. In the comparison of these pathological changes in rats and mice, infected mice suffered more serious injuries and provoked more intense inflammatory response as compared to infected rats. All these morphological evidences indicate that larval development was retardant in the CNS of nonpermissive host, and nonpermissive host experienced more serious pathological injuries than permissive host. It implies that the difference in innate immune response to parasite infection attribute to host specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisi OuYang
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Rd 2, Guangzhou 510080, People's Republic of China
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