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Arias-Pacheco C, Perin PP, de Oliveira Andrade L, Gomes JS, Oliveira WJ, Mendonça TO, de Oliveira Zolla N, Cavallieri AC, da Silva DA, Castilho PM, de Barros LD, Garcia JL, Lux Hoppe EG. Toxoplasma gondii infection in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:222. [PMID: 38801539 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08248-4] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis that affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. Wild animals can act as intermediate hosts of this pathogen; thus, this study aims to detect Toxoplasma gondii infection in invasive European brown hares in Brazil. For this, 72 wild European brown hares were captured from July 2020 to June 2022 in three Brazilian states: São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. The diagnostic of Toxoplasma gondii infection was performed by bioassay in mouse, histopathology in Hematoxylin-Eosin-stained tissue sections (brain, liver, lungs, kidneys, and small intestine), serology by IFAT, and molecular techniques by conventional PCR and qPCR. The combined prevalence of the different diagnostic methods was 51.4% (37/72, CI= 40.1 - 62.6 %), and there was no statistical difference between sexes, age range, or geographical region of the hosts. Mouse bioassay was the technique that detected more positive hares. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in invasive European brown hares in Brazil. These animals act as reservoirs and potential infection source for carnivores and other wild and domestic animals, including humans, thus contributing to perpetuate the disease cycle in São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul States. Research such as the present study is necessary to raise awareness about the role of animals in the disease cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Arias-Pacheco
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Patricia Parreira Perin
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Lívia de Oliveira Andrade
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Silvestre Gomes
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Wilson Junior Oliveira
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Talita Oliveira Mendonça
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Natália de Oliveira Zolla
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Cavallieri
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, State University of Londrina, São Paulo, PR, 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Douglas Aparecido da Silva
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, State University of Londrina, São Paulo, PR, 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Pablo Menegon Castilho
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, State University of Londrina, São Paulo, PR, 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Veterinary Medicine Department, Federal University of Lavras, Londrina, MG, 37203-202, Brazil
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, State University of Londrina, São Paulo, PR, 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Estevam G Lux Hoppe
- Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, 14884-900, Brazil.
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Ihara F, Kyan H, Takashima Y, Ono F, Hayashi K, Matsuo T, Igarashi M, Nishikawa Y, Hikosaka K, Sakamoto H, Nakamura S, Motooka D, Yamauchi K, Ichikawa-Seki M, Fukumoto S, Sasaki M, Ikadai H, Kusakisako K, Ohari Y, Yoshida A, Sasai M, Grigg ME, Yamamoto M. Far-East Asian Toxoplasma isolates share ancestry with North and South/Central American recombinant lineages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4278. [PMID: 38778039 PMCID: PMC11111807 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47625-6] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a global protozoan pathogen. Clonal lineages predominate in Europe, North America, Africa, and China, whereas highly recombinant parasites are endemic in South/Central America. Far East Asian T. gondii isolates are not included in current global population genetic structure analyses at WGS resolution. Here we report a genome-wide population study that compared eight Japanese and two Chinese isolates against representative worldwide T. gondii genomes using POPSICLE, a novel population structure analyzing software. Also included were 7 genomes resurrected from non-viable isolates by target enrichment sequencing. Visualization of the genome structure by POPSICLE shows a mixture of Chinese haplogroup (HG) 13 haploblocks introgressed within the genomes of Japanese HG2 and North American HG12. Furthermore, two ancestral lineages were identified in the Japanese strains; one lineage shares a common ancestor with HG11 found in both Japanese strains and North American HG12. The other ancestral lineage, found in T. gondii isolates from a small island in Japan, is admixed with genetically diversified South/Central American strains. Taken together, this study suggests multiple ancestral links between Far East Asian and American T. gondii strains and provides insight into the transmission history of this cosmopolitan organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Ihara
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hisako Kyan
- Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Uruma, Okinawa, 904-2241, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1112, Japan
- Center for One Medicine Translational Research, COMIT, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1112, Japan
| | - Fumiko Ono
- Department of Veterinary Associated Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime, 794-8555, Japan
| | - Kei Hayashi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime, 794-8555, Japan
| | - Tomohide Matsuo
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Makoto Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Kenji Hikosaka
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Sakamoto
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Shota Nakamura
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yamauchi
- Laboratory of Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8550, Japan
| | - Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8550, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Motoki Sasaki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ikadai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Kodai Kusakisako
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan
| | - Yuma Ohari
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Ayako Yoshida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2155, Japan
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2155, Japan
| | - Miwa Sasai
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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3
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Gupta P, Hiller A, Chowdhury J, Lim D, Lim DY, Saeij JPJ, Babaian A, Rodriguez F, Pereira L, Morales-Tapia A. A parasite odyssey: An RNA virus concealed in Toxoplasma gondii. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae040. [PMID: 38817668 PMCID: PMC11137675 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
We are entering a 'Platinum Age of Virus Discovery', an era marked by exponential growth in the discovery of virus biodiversity, and driven by advances in metagenomics and computational analysis. In the ecosystem of a human (or any animal) there are more species of viruses than simply those directly infecting the animal cells. Viruses can infect all organisms constituting the microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, and unicellular parasites. Thus the complexity of possible interactions between host, microbe, and viruses is unfathomable. To understand this interaction network we must employ computationally assisted virology as a means of analyzing and interpreting the millions of available samples to make inferences about the ways in which viruses may intersect human health. From a computational viral screen of human neuronal datasets, we identified a novel narnavirus Apocryptovirus odysseus (Ao) which likely infects the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Previously, several parasitic protozoan viruses (PPVs) have been mechanistically established as triggers of host innate responses, and here we present in silico evidence that Ao is a plausible pro-inflammatory factor in human and mouse cells infected by T. gondii. T. gondii infects billions of people worldwide, yet the prognosis of toxoplasmosis disease is highly variable, and PPVs like Ao could function as a hitherto undescribed hypervirulence factor. In a broader screen of over 7.6 million samples, we explored phylogenetically proximal viruses to Ao and discovered nineteen Apocryptovirus species, all found in libraries annotated as vertebrate transcriptome or metatranscriptomes. While samples containing this genus of narnaviruses are derived from sheep, goat, bat, rabbit, chicken, and pigeon samples, the presence of virus is strongly predictive of parasitic Apicomplexa nucleic acid co-occurrence, supporting the fact that Apocryptovirus is a genus of parasite-infecting viruses. This is a computational proof-of-concept study in which we rapidly analyze millions of datasets from which we distilled a mechanistically, ecologically, and phylogenetically refined hypothesis. We predict that this highly diverged Ao RNA virus is biologically a T. gondii infection, and that Ao, and other viruses like it, will modulate this disease which afflicts billions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purav Gupta
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd,Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Aiden Hiller
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Jawad Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Declan Lim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Dillon Yee Lim
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, Sherrington Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Jeroen P J Saeij
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Artem Babaian
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Felipe Rodriguez
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Luke Pereira
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
| | - Alejandro Morales-Tapia
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular + Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- The Woodlands Secondary School, 3225 Erindale Station Rd, Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5, Canada
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4
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Bowater RO, Gummow B, Mackie T, Thompson AR, Hayes DA, Goudkamp K, Taylor JD. Toxoplasmosis epidemic in a population of urbanised allied rock-wallabies (Petrogale assimilis) on Magnetic Island (Yunbenun), North Queensland. Aust Vet J 2024; 102:256-263. [PMID: 38361144 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13319] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
A mortality event involving 23 allied rock-wallabies (Petrogale assimilis) displaying neurological signs and sudden death occurred in late April to May 2021 in a suburban residential area directly adjacent to Magnetic Island National Park, on Magnetic Island (Yunbenun), North Queensland, Australia. Three allied rock-wallabies were submitted for necropsy, and in all three cases, the cause of death was disseminated toxoplasmosis. This mortality event was unusual because only a small, localised population of native wallabies inhabiting a periurban area on a tropical island in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area were affected. A disease investigation determined the outbreak was likely linked to the presence of free-ranging feral and domesticated cats inhabiting the area. There were no significant deaths of other wallabies or wildlife in the same or other parts of Magnetic Island (Yunbenun) at the time of the outbreak. This is the first reported case of toxoplasmosis in allied rock-wallabies (Petrogale assimilis), and this investigation highlights the importance of protecting native wildlife species from an infectious and potentially fatal parasitic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R O Bowater
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Solander Road, Townsville, 4811, Queensland, Australia
| | - B Gummow
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Solander Road, Townsville, 4811, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - T Mackie
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Solander Road, Townsville, 4811, Queensland, Australia
| | - A R Thompson
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Animal Health Laboratory, 165 Westbury Road, Prospect, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia
| | - D A Hayes
- Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia
| | - K Goudkamp
- Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland, 4819, Australia
| | - J D Taylor
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Solander Road, Townsville, 4811, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Grada S, Mihu AG, Oatis DA, Marc CC, Chicea LM, Petrescu C, Lupu AM, Olariu TR. Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii in Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Cross Sectional Study. Biomedicines 2024; 12:998. [PMID: 38790960 PMCID: PMC11117935 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12050998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies and risk factors associated with seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This seroepidemiological study assessed 196 participants, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 98 schizophrenic patients and was matched with 98 healthy blood donors. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding potential risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Results revealed a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in schizophrenic patients (69.39%, 68/98) when compared to healthy controls (51.02%, 50/98) (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21-3.9; p = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia who consumed raw or undercooked meat (80.65%, 25/31) (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.25-11.21, p = 0.02) and those with a lower educational level (77.59%, 45/58) (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.59-7.54, p = 0.002) presented increased T. gondii seropositivity rates versus their control counterparts. Our findings indicate a high T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy blood donors. Factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were consumption of raw or uncooked meat and a lower educational attainment. This study provided the first data regarding the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Romanian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Grada
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.G.); (T.R.O.)
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Alin Gabriel Mihu
- “Aurel Ardelean” Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 86 Rebreanu, 310414 Arad, Romania;
- Department of Biology and Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University, 310300 Arad, Romania
- Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Daniela Adriana Oatis
- “Aurel Ardelean” Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 86 Rebreanu, 310414 Arad, Romania;
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University, 310300 Arad, Romania
| | - Constantin Catalin Marc
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department of Biology and Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University, 310300 Arad, Romania
| | - Liana Maria Chicea
- Department II Medical Clinic, “Victor Papilian” Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania;
- Internal Medicine Department, Academic Emergency Hospital, 550245 Sibiu, Romania
| | - Cristina Petrescu
- Discipline of Hygiene, Department of Microbiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Alina Maria Lupu
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.G.); (T.R.O.)
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Tudor Rares Olariu
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.G.); (T.R.O.)
- Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Patogen Preventia, 300124 Timisoara, Romania
- Clinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Teaching Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, Romania
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6
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Boubaker G, Bernal A, Vigneswaran A, Imhof D, de Sousa MCF, Hänggeli KPA, Haudenschild N, Furrer J, Păunescu E, Desiatkina O, Hemphill A. In vitro and in vivo activities of a trithiolato-diRuthenium complex conjugated with sulfadoxine against the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100544. [PMID: 38703737 PMCID: PMC11087982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Organometallic compounds, including Ruthenium complexes, have been widely developed as anti-cancer chemotherapeutics, but have also attracted much interest as potential anti-parasitic drugs. Recently hybrid drugs composed of organometallic Ruthenium moieties that were complexed to different antimicrobial agents were synthesized. One of these compounds, a trithiolato-diRuthenium complex (RU) conjugated to sulfadoxine (SDX), inhibited proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites grown in human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) monolayers with an IC50 < 150 nM, while SDX and the non-modified RU complex applied either individually or as an equimolar mixture were much less potent. In addition, conjugation of SDX to RU lead to decreased HFF cytotoxicity. RU-SDX did not impair the in vitro proliferation of murine splenocytes at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 μM but had an impact at 2 μM, and induced zebrafish embryotoxicity at 20 μM, but not at 2 or 0.2 μM. RU-SDX acted parasitostatic but not parasiticidal, and induced transient ultrastructural changes in the mitochondrial matrix of tachyzoites early during treatment. While other compounds that target the mitochondrion such as the uncouplers FCCP and CCCP and another trithiolato-Ruthenium complex conjugated to adenine affected the mitochondrial membrane potential, no such effect was detected for RU-SDX. Evaluation of the in vivo efficacy of RU-SDX in a murine T. gondii oocyst infection model comprised of non-pregnant outbred CD1 mice showed no effects on the cerebral parasite burden, but reduced parasite load in the eyes and in heart tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alice Bernal
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Anitha Vigneswaran
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Dennis Imhof
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Maria Cristina Ferreira de Sousa
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Kai Pascal Alexander Hänggeli
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Noé Haudenschild
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Julien Furrer
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Emilia Păunescu
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Oksana Desiatkina
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern. Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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Su D, Zhu S, Xu K, Hou Z, Hao F, Xu F, Lin Y, Zhu Y, Liu D, Duan Q, Zhang X, Yuan Y, Xu J, Tao J. Phosphoproteomic analysis reveals changes in A-Raf-related protein phosphorylation in response to Toxoplasma gondii infection in porcine macrophages. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:191. [PMID: 38643189 PMCID: PMC11031963 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06273-x] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes severe threats to humans and livestock. Macrophages are the cell type preferentially infected by T. gondii in vivo. Protein phosphorylation is an important posttranslational modification involved in diverse cellular functions. A rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase (A-Raf) is a member of the Raf family of serine/threonine protein kinases that is necessary for MAPK activation. Our previous research found that knockout of A-Raf could reduce T. gondii-induced apoptosis in porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21 cells). However, limited information is available on protein phosphorylation variations and the role of A-Raf in macrophages infected with T. gondii. METHODS We used immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) in combination with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to profile changes in phosphorylation in T. gondii-infected 3D4/21 and 3D4/21-ΔAraf cells. RESULTS A total of 1647 differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins (DEPPs) with 3876 differentially phosphorylated sites (DPSs) were identified in T. gondii-infected 3D4/21 cells (p3T group) when compared with uninfected 3D4/21 cells (pho3 group), and 959 DEPPs with 1540 DPSs were identified in the p3T group compared with infected 3D4/21-ΔAraf cells (p3KT group). Venn analysis revealed 552 DPSs corresponding to 406 DEPPs with the same phosphorylated sites when comparing p3T/pho3 versus p3T/p3KT, which were identified as DPSs and DEPPs that were directly or indirectly related to A-Raf. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed distinct responses of macrophages to T. gondii infection and the potential roles of A-Raf in fighting infection via phosphorylation of crucial proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingzeyang Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shifan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangzhi Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaofeng Hou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fuxing Hao
- Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, 225300, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiangde Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinjun Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuguo Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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Carranza-Rodríguez C, Bolaños-Rivero M, Pérez-Arellano JL. Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans: A Comprehensive Approach Involving the General Population, HIV-Infected Patients and Intermediate-Duration Fever in the Canary Islands, Spain. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:809. [PMID: 38667455 PMCID: PMC11049236 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14080809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A prior investigation in 1993 identified a high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis (63%) in the Canary Islands. This study aims to assess the current prevalence of the disease in diverse population groups. The study was based on a population-scale screening involving 273 residents utilizing T. gondii IgG ELISA and a 20 year retrospective study (1998-2018). This included AIDS/HIV outpatients (1357, of which 324 were residents), AIDS/HIV hospitalized patients (741) and patients with fever of intermediate duration (158). The seroprevalence in the resident population was 37%, with significant differences between islands. Among resident outpatients with AIDS/HIV, 14.2% had specific anti-T. gondii IgG, and three had anti-T. gondii IgM; however, IgG avidity testing indicated non-active infection. In patients hospitalized for AIDS/HIV, T. gondii causing encephalitis was detected in 2%. Among patients with fever of intermediate duration, 28.5% were positive for T. gondii IgG, and four also showed IgM positivity, although the infection was non-active. The study reveals a decrease in human toxoplasmosis over the past 30 years. However, the current seroprevalence, which stands at 37%, together with the substantial risk that T. gondii represents for immunocompromised individuals, highlights the need to implement preventive and control strategies to control the threat that this infection can pose to public health in the Canary Islands population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Carranza-Rodríguez
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain and Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
| | - Margarita Bolaños-Rivero
- Microbiology Division, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
| | - José-Luis Pérez-Arellano
- University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain and Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
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Murata R, Kodo Y, Maeno A, Suzuki J, Mori K, Sadamasu K, Kawahara F, Nagamune K. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis sp. in the meat of common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata): A case of suspected food poisoning in Japan. Parasitol Int 2024; 99:102832. [PMID: 38040112 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102832] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
A case of suspected food poisoning related to the consumption of raw meat from a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) was reported in Tokyo, Japan, in June 2020. Microscopic analysis revealed tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii and sarcocysts of Sarcocystis sp. in whale meat. The SAG2 and ITS1 region sequences of T. gondii were detected in the DNA extracted from the meat. Genotyping of the multilocus nested PCR-RFLP using the genetic markers SAG1, SAG2 (5'- SAG2, 3'-SAG2, and alt. SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico revealed that the genotype of T. gondii was type II, with a type I pattern for the L358 locus. In the phylogenetic analyses of the six loci (GRA6, GRA7, SAG1, HP2, UPRT1, and UPRT7), these sequences clustered into haplogroup 2. Moreover, the sequences of the virulence-related genes ROP5 and ROP18 of T. gondii isolated from whale meat were similar to those of the type II ME49 reference strain. Sequence analyses of the mtDNA cox1 gene, 18S rRNA gene, and ITS1 region indicated the highest similarity of sarcocyst isolated from whale meat to Sarcocystis species that infect birds or carnivores as intermediate hosts; however, the species could not be identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. being detected in same whale meat ingested by patients involved in a suspected food poisoning case in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Murata
- Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Kodo
- Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Ai Maeno
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Jun Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan.
| | - Kohji Mori
- Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Kenji Sadamasu
- Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Fumiya Kawahara
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Kisaburo Nagamune
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
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10
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Akcay G, Bahadir A, Tatar Y, Nuri Atalar M, Babur C, Taylan Ozkan A. Investigation of the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on behavioral and molecular mechanism in bradyzoite stage. Brain Res 2024; 1828:148762. [PMID: 38228258 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148762] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that causes a disease called toxoplasmosis. It can reach the central nervous system, but the mechanism of T. gondii disrupting the functioning of these brain regions occurs in bradyzoite stage of parasite, causing brain damage by forming tissue cysts in brain. In our study, the effects of T. gondii on locomotor activity, anxiety, learning and memory, and norepinephrine (NE), levodopa (L-DOPA), dopamine (DA) and 3,4-D-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) catecholamines in amygdala, striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain were investigated in bradyzoite stage. Twenty male Albino mice Mus musculus, 4-5 weeks old, weighing 20-25 g, were used. T. gondii inoculated to mice intraperitonealy with 48-50-hour passages of T. gondii RH Ankara strain. For intraperitoneal inoculation of mice 5x104 tachyzoites per mouse. No inoculation was made in control group (n: 20). Locomotor activity behavior in open field test (OFT), anxious behavior in elevated plus maze (EPM), and learning behavior in novel object recognition (NOR) tests were evaluated. NE, L-DOPA, DA and DOPAC were measured by HPLC in brain tissues of amygdala, striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. A decrease was observed in the locomotor activity, anxiety and learning values of the T. gondii group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The heighten in NE and L-DOPA levels in amygdala tissue of T. gondii group compared to control group, an elevation in NE, L-DOPA, DA and DOPAC levels in striatum tissue, and an increase in levels of NE in prefrontal cortex tissue were detected in monoamine results. In hippocampus tissue, an increase was observed in DA levels, while a decrease was observed in NE, L-DOPA and DOPAC levels. In our study, it has been shown that T. gondii in bradyzoite stage reduces locomotor activity, causes learning and memory impairment, and has anxiogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guven Akcay
- Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Çorum, Turkey.
| | - Anzel Bahadir
- Duzce University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Düzce, Turkey
| | - Yakup Tatar
- TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Nuri Atalar
- Igdir University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Iğdır, Turkey
| | - Cahit Babur
- National Parasitology Reference Laboratory, General Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Taylan Ozkan
- TOBB ETU University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
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11
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Hasan J, Bok S. Plasmonic Fluorescence Sensors in Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:130. [PMID: 38534237 DOI: 10.3390/bios14030130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The increasing demand for rapid, cost-effective, and reliable diagnostic tools in personalized and point-of-care medicine is driving scientists to enhance existing technology platforms and develop new methods for detecting and measuring clinically significant biomarkers. Humanity is confronted with growing risks from emerging and recurring infectious diseases, including the influenza virus, dengue virus (DENV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Ebola virus, tuberculosis, cholera, and, most notably, SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19), among others. Timely diagnosis of infections and effective disease control have always been of paramount importance. Plasmonic-based biosensing holds the potential to address the threat posed by infectious diseases by enabling prompt disease monitoring. In recent years, numerous plasmonic platforms have risen to the challenge of offering on-site strategies to complement traditional diagnostic methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Disease detection can be accomplished through the utilization of diverse plasmonic phenomena, such as propagating surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localized SPR (LSPR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF), surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, and plasmonic fluorescence sensors. This review focuses on diagnostic methods employing plasmonic fluorescence sensors, highlighting their pivotal role in swift disease detection with remarkable sensitivity. It underscores the necessity for continued research to expand the scope and capabilities of plasmonic fluorescence sensors in the field of diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juiena Hasan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Sangho Bok
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
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12
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Ramos RCF, Barbosa ADS, Aleixo ALQDC, Arruda IF, Amendoeira MRR. Comparison of immunological and molecular methods for laboratory diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood, serum and tears in Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298393. [PMID: 38319921 PMCID: PMC10846737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by protozoan T. gondii. Ophthalmological examination is considered the gold standard for OT diagnosis, and laboratory tests are used for diagnostic confirmation. However, these tests can present different results, which change depending on their basis, on sample type and on patients' clinical alteration. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess immunodiagnostic and molecular techniques applied in blood, serum and tear fluid to diagnose T. gondii infection in patients seen at an Ophthalmology Clinic. In total, 160 patients were included in the study, 40 of them had OT with active lesions (G1); 40 had OT with healed lesions (G2), 40 had non-toxoplasmic uveitis (G3) and 40 had no ocular alterations (G4). Serum samples were subjected to Immunoenzymatic Assay (ELISA) and to Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) to search for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG. Tear fluid samples were analyzed through ELISA for IgA research. All blood and tear fluid samples were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and in a Nested PCR model for T. gondii DNA amplification with targets B1, GRA7 and REP 529. IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii was detected in serum samples from 106 and 15 patients, respectively, when combining ELISA and IFAT results. Anti-T.gondii IgA antibodies were detected in 9.2% of the tear material. Nested PCR with GRA7 target showed higher positivity in blood samples (24.4%); Nested PCR with B1 target showed a higher frequency of positivity in tears (15%). Biological samples of patients with active lesions showed the highest positivity frequencies in all immunodiagnostic assays, as well as in most PCR models. The present results highlighted the need of associating techniques with different fundamentals to confirm OT diagnosis. Furthermore, further tear fluid analyses should be performed to validate this biological material as lesser invasive alternative for the more accurate OT diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alynne da Silva Barbosa
- Laboratory of Toxoplasmosis and Other Protozooses, Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute / Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Luisa Quintella do Couto Aleixo
- Laboratory of Clinical Research in Infectious Ophthalmology–Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectology/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Igor Falco Arruda
- Laboratory of Toxoplasmosis and Other Protozooses, Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Manzini S, Bertozzo TV, Aires IN, Rodrigues NJL, Bertolini AB, Alexandrino M, Steinle JS, de Melo RPB, Mota RA, de Medeiros MIM, Richini-Pereira VB, Curci VCLM, Lucheis SB. Comparison of molecular techniques for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in raw bovine milk from small rural properties in Brazil. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 409:110466. [PMID: 37925885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110466] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to research Toxoplasma gondii DNA in 102 samples of raw bovine milk from expansion tanks, in small properties located in different cities of the Midwest region of São Paulo, Brazil. For this, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with the primers TOX4/TOX5 for cPCR (conventional PCR), TgNP1/TgNP2 gene for nested PCR and the Tg18s58F/Tg18s348R for nested PCR. It was possible to detect T. gondii DNA in 18 (17.65 %) milk samples from the 102 tanks, corresponding to 4.90 % for TOX4/TOX5 primers, 12.74 % for TgNP1/TgNP2 gene and 0.98 % for Tg18s58F/Tg18s348R gene. The results showed that the TgNP1 and TgNP2 genes were more efficient to detect T. gondii DNA, and also indicated the importance of raw bovine milk as a source of human infections caused by this protozoan, being a public health problem. It is important to continue studies involving T. gondii from bovine milk considering the need for proper pasteurization, and for better comprehension regarding the epidemiology of this protozoan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzane Manzini
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Thainá Valente Bertozzo
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Isabella Neves Aires
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Nássarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Bezerra Bertolini
- Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Marcela Alexandrino
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Jackieline Sampaio Steinle
- Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | | | - Rinaldo Aparecido Mota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Simone Baldini Lucheis
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil; Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil; São Paulo State Agency for Agribusiness Technology (APTA/SAA), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.
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14
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Müller J, Hemphill A. In vitro screening technologies for the discovery and development of novel drugs against Toxoplasma gondii. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:97-109. [PMID: 37921660 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2276349] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toxoplasmosis constitutes a challenge for public health, animal production and welfare. Since more than 60 years, only a limited panel of drugs has been in use for clinical applications. AREAS COVERED Herein, the authors describe the methodology and the results of library screening approaches to identify inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii and related strains. The authors then provide the reader with their expert perspectives for the future. EXPERT OPINION Various library screening projects, in particular those using reporter strains, have led to the identification of numerous compounds with good efficacy and specificity in vitro. However, only few compounds are effective in suitable animal models such as rodents. Whereas no novel compound has cleared the hurdle to applications in humans, the few compounds with known indication and application profiles in human patients are of interest for further investigations. Taken together, drug repurposing as well as high-throughput screening of novel compound libraries may shorten the way to novel drugs against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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15
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Fernandes FD, Samoel GVA, Guerra RR, Bräunig P, Machado DWN, Cargnelutti JF, Sangioni LA, Vogel FSF. Five years of the biggest outbreak of human toxoplasmosis in Santa Maria, Brazil: a review. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:76. [PMID: 38156993 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08073-1] [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: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In 2018, the first cases of people with clinical signs of acute febrile syndrome were reported, and in the same year, the largest outbreak of human toxoplasmosis ever described in the literature was reported. In this sense, the present work sought to describe the evolution of the outbreak cases in the municipality of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, as well as the studies conducted and published during and after the outbreak in the municipality (the period between 2018 and 2023). In addition, the discussion of public policies and their modifications after the notification of this outbreak. As a result of this research, verifying the evolution of notified and confirmed cases, the possibility of detection and genotypic characterization of T. gondii and the possibility of co-infections and evaluation of the humoral response is possible. With regard to public policies, the importance of detecting the agent through the heel prick test and increasing the monitoring of water quality to prevent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fagner D'ambroso Fernandes
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.
- Centro Universitario Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter), Av Manoel Elias, 2001 - Passo das Pedras, Porto Alegre, RS, 91240-261, Brazil.
| | - Gisele Vaz Aguirre Samoel
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Rojas Guerra
- Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 13, Sala 1206, Bairro Camobi, CEP, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Patricia Bräunig
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Diego Willian Nascimento Machado
- Curso de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (CAU-ULBRA), Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, n°8001, Prédio 14, Bairro São José, Canoas, RS, CEP 92425-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Felipetto Cargnelutti
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia (LABAC), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS , CEP 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Luis Antonio Sangioni
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Silveira Flores Vogel
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa (UFSM), Av Roraima, N° 1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil
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16
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Fernandes FD, Tagarra LG, Roman IJ, Moraes DADO, Rodrigues D, de Andrade CM, Bräunig P, de Oliveira-Filho EF, Cargnelutti JF, Sangioni LA, Vogel FSF. Increased frequency of detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in domestic cats after outbreak of human toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:73. [PMID: 38150060 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08092-y] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis affects various organisms, including humans. In 2018, the largest outbreak of human toxoplasmosis described so far was reported in southern Brazil, with 809 human cases reported, and water as the potentially primary source of infection. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected domestic cats before and after the human toxoplasmosis outbreak, as well as the potential for environmental contamination by the number of cats infected after the outbreak. We evaluated 381 serum samples from domestic cats in southern Brazil, using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, with samples considered positive at a titer of 1:20. We found that 73% (204/279) and 27% (75/279) of the samples analyzed before the outbreak were negative and positive, respectively. After the outbreak, 62% (69/112) were negative of the samples were and 38% (43/112) were positive. Notably, the proportion of positive samples before the outbreak before (27%) was significantly lower than that after the outbreak (38%; P = 0.020). Therefore, the increased seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats was probably correlated with the ingestion of contaminated water. Therefore, it is important to monitor animals, mainly definitive hosts, after toxoplasmosis outbreaks, considering that these animals can contaminate the environment and, consequently, humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fagner D'Ambroso Fernandes
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
- Centro Universitário Ritter Dos Reis (UniRitter), Av. Manoel Elias, nº 2001, Bairro Passo das Pedras, 91240-261, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
| | - Larissa Godoy Tagarra
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Isac Junior Roman
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Denis Altieri de Oliveira Moraes
- Departamento de Estatística (DE), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas (CCNE), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 13, Sala 1208, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Daniele Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinária (LACVET), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Hospital Veterinário Universitário (HVU), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 97, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Cinthia Melazzo de Andrade
- Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinária (LACVET), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Hospital Veterinário Universitário (HVU), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 97, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
- Departamento de Clínica de Pequenos Animais (DCPA), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 97, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria-RS, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Patricia Bräunig
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | | | - Juliana Felipetto Cargnelutti
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia (LABAC), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Luis Antonio Sangioni
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Fernanda Silveira Flores Vogel
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva (DMVP), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, nº1000, Prédio 63D, Bairro Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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17
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Brito RMDM, de Lima Bessa G, Bastilho AL, Dantas-Torres F, de Andrade-Neto VF, Bueno LL, Fujiwara RT, Magalhães LMD. Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:461. [PMID: 38115102 PMCID: PMC10729521 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06080-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable genetic diversity, T. gondii strains differ widely according to geographical location, with archetypal strains predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and non-archetypal (atypical) strains, with highly diverse genotypes, found mainly in South America. In this review, we present an overview of the identification and distribution of non-archetypal strains of T. gondii. Special attention is paid to the strains that have been isolated in Brazil, their interaction with the host immunological response, and their impact on disease outcomes. The genetic differences among the strains are pivotal to the distinct immunological responses that they elicit. These differences arise from polymorphisms of key proteins released by the parasite, which represent important virulence factors. Infection with divergent non-archetypal strains can lead to unusual manifestations of the disease, even in immunocompetent individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
| | - Luisa M D Magalhães
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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18
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Feitosa TF, Vilela VLR, Batista SP, Silva SS, Mota RA, Katzer F, Bartley PM. Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in goats and sheep from the Northeast Region of Brazil destined for human consumption. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2023; 5:100163. [PMID: 38196495 PMCID: PMC10775902 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to genotype isolates of Toxoplasma gondii obtained from samples of brain, diaphragm and heart of goats and sheep intended for human consumption in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. Tissue samples from 14 animals, goats (n = 5) and lambs (n = 9), were sourced from public slaughterhouses in seven cities and bio-assayed in mice. The brains of the mice were utilized for DNA extraction. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using 10 markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, c22-8, PK1, GRA6, L358, c-29-2 and Apico). A total of 10 isolates were fully genotyped (i.e. at all loci), three from goats and seven from sheep, revealing five distinct genotypes: #13 (n = 4); #48 (n = 3); #57 (n = 1); #273 (n = 1); and one new genotype that had not been previously described. Genotype #13 is frequently found in the Northeast of Brazil and represents a clonal lineage circulating in this region and was the most prevalent genotype identified (n = 4). Moreover, in the present study genotypes #13, #48, #57, and #273 were documented for the first time in sheep from Brazil, and the novel genotype was isolated from a goat. Our findings align with previous studies on T. gondii from Brazil, where new genotypes are continuously being identified, highlighting a high level of genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Ferreira Feitosa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Institute of Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, Paraíba, ZC 58800-970, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Science and Animal Health, Federal University of Campina Grande - UFCG, Patos, Paraíba, ZC 58708-110, Brazil
| | - Samira Pereira Batista
- Postgraduate Program in Science and Animal Health, Federal University of Campina Grande - UFCG, Patos, Paraíba, ZC 58708-110, Brazil
| | - Samara Santos Silva
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Pernambuco, ZC 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo Aparecido Mota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco - UFRPE, Recife, Pernambuco, ZC 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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19
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Calero-Bernal R, Gennari SM, Cano S, Salas-Fajardo MY, Ríos A, Álvarez-García G, Ortega-Mora LM. Anti- Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in European Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Published between 2000 and 2020. Pathogens 2023; 12:1430. [PMID: 38133313 PMCID: PMC10745778 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis has a major impact on animal and public health. Information regarding the seroprevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infections from a European perspective has not yet been compiled to date. Thus, the present review summarized available resident data from the period 2000-2020. The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was 32.1%, with great variability between countries (n = 30). The subgroup analysis identified different pooled prevalence data depending on the geographic area (p < 0.0001), target population (p = 0.0147), and serological diagnosis assays used (p = 0.0059). A high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%, p < 0.001; Q = 3.5e+05, d.f. = 135, p < 0.001) and degree of publication bias (Egger's test = 6.14, p < 0.001) were observed among the 134 studies considered. The occurrence of anti-T. gondii IgM, which was reported in 64.7% of studies, reached a pooled seroprevalence of 0.6%. In addition, among the eight main risk factors identified, "contact with soil", "consumption of undercooked beef", and "intake of unwashed vegetables" were the most significantly associated with infections. The fact that one-third of the European population has been exposed to T. gondii justifies extra efforts to harmonize surveillance systems and develop additional risk-factor analyses based on detailed source attribution assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Solange María Gennari
- PhD Program in One Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil;
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Santiago Cano
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Martha Ynés Salas-Fajardo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Arantxa Ríos
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
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20
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Dhivahar J, Parthasarathy A, Krishnan K, Kovi BS, Pandian GN. Bat-associated microbes: Opportunities and perils, an overview. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22351. [PMID: 38125540 PMCID: PMC10730444 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential biotechnological uses of bat-associated bacteria are discussed briefly, indicating avenues for biotechnological applications of bat-associated microbes. The uniqueness of bats in terms of their lifestyle, genomes and molecular immunology may predispose bats to act as disease reservoirs. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown several instances of bats harbouring the ancestral lineages of bacterial (Bartonella), protozoal (Plasmodium, Trypanosoma cruzi) and viral (SARS-CoV2) pathogens infecting humans. Along with the transmission of viruses from bats, we also discuss the potential roles of bat-associated bacteria, fungi, and protozoan parasites in emerging diseases. Current evidence suggests that environmental changes and interactions between wildlife, livestock, and humans contribute to the spill-over of infectious agents from bats to other hosts. Domestic animals including livestock may act as intermediate amplifying hosts for bat-origin pathogens to transmit to humans. An increasing number of studies investigating bat pathogen diversity and infection dynamics have been published. However, whether or how these infectious agents are transmitted both within bat populations and to other hosts, including humans, often remains unknown. Metagenomic approaches are uncovering the dynamics and distribution of potential pathogens in bat microbiomes, which might improve the understanding of disease emergence and transmission. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on bat zoonoses of public health concern and flag the gaps in the knowledge to enable further research and allocation of resources for tackling future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Dhivahar
- Research Department of Zoology, St. Johns College, Palayamkottai, 627002, India
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology, Loyola College, Chennai, 600034, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, University of Madras, Chennai, 600025, India
| | - Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, Richmond Building, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Kathiravan Krishnan
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, University of Madras, Chennai, 600025, India
| | - Basavaraj S. Kovi
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Yoshida Ushinomiyacho, 69, Sakyo Ward, 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ganesh N. Pandian
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Yoshida Ushinomiyacho, 69, Sakyo Ward, 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
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21
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López-Ureña NM, Calero-Bernal R, Vázquez-Calvo Á, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Ortega-Mora LM, Álvarez-García G. A comparative study of serological tests used in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in small ruminants evidenced the importance of cross-reactions for harmonizing diagnostic performance. Res Vet Sci 2023; 165:105052. [PMID: 37864907 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105052] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major foodborne zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat of small ruminants, among others. Serology has been suggested as an epidemiological indicator and several tests are available nowadays. However, there is no comparative study with the most used ones. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and validate two in-house tests (Western blot -TgSALUVET WB- and ELISA -TgSALUVET ELISA 2.0-) and perform a comparative study including such tests and four commercial ELISA kits (IDScreen®, PrioCHECK®, Pigtype® and IDEXX). First, a specific pattern of recognition of immunodominant antigens by TgSALUVET WB was determined with serum panels of noninfected sheep and sheep infected with T. gondii or Neospora caninum. Next, TgSALUVET WB was used as a reference to preliminary validate TgSALUVET ELISA 2.0 using sera from sheep and goats naturally infected with T. gondii. Then, the abovementioned sheep serum panels were analyzed by all tests and subjected to TG-ROC analyses and agreement tests, and cross-reactivity with the anti-N. caninum IgGs was studied. All the techniques were accurate enough for the cutoff values initially suggested with all serum panels (Se and Sp ≥ 94%), except for PrioCHECK®, which showed 83% Sp. However, a cutoff readjustment improved their diagnostic performance. Additionally, cross-reactions between anti-N. caninum antibodies and T. gondii antigens were detected with all tests. Thus, a second cutoff readjustment was carried out and the use of both readjusted cutoff values is recommended to obtain comparable data and avoid false-positive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia María López-Ureña
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | | | - Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid 28040, Spain.
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22
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Fasquelle F, Scuotto A, Vreulx AC, Petit T, Charpentier T, Betbeder D. Nasal vaccination of six squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus): Improved immunization protocol against Toxoplasma gondii with a nanoparticle-born vaccine. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:69-74. [PMID: 37720360 PMCID: PMC10500419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoon found worldwide, which completes its life cycle between felids (its definitive host) and other warm-blooded animals. While the infection rarely leads to severe complications in humans, many animal species are very susceptible to this infection, for example the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) which is the subject of this study. Toxoplasmosis is lethal for 80% of cases in this species, and fatal outbreaks are frequently reported in zoological parks. No efficient treatment exists, but a new vaccine prepared with maltodextrin nanoparticles containing killed T. gondii antigens has been tested recently in French zoos. The animals were immunized through heterologous administrations, with two nasal doses at one-month interval, followed by nasal/subcutaneous boosts thereafter. No death has been reported since the beginning of this vaccination campaign, but we felt the protocol could be simplified. Here, an improved and less-invasive immunization protocol was evaluated on 6 Saimiri sciureus in the French zoo La Palmyre. It consisted of two nasal administrations at one-month interval, followed by a nasal boost at 6 months. A specific memory T-cell immunity was observed by ELISPOT after two administrations in all the animals, without humoral responses. The results suggest that 2 nasal administrations induce a protective immune response against T. gondii infection and might be sufficient to induce a strong Tcell memory, further improving immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Thierry Petit
- Zoo de La Palmyre, 6 avenue de Royan, 17570, Les Mathes, France
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23
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Kang HJ, Mao J, Kim MJ, Yoon KW, Eom GD, Chu KB, Moon EK, Quan FS. The detection of Toxoplasma gondii ME49 infections in BALB/c mice using various techniques. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2023; 61:418-427. [PMID: 38043537 PMCID: PMC10693974 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are primarily diagnosed by serological assays, whereas molecular and fluorescence-based techniques are garnering attention for their high sensitivity in detecting these infections. Nevertheless, each detection method has its limitations. The toxoplasmosis detection capabilities of most of the currently available methods have not been evaluated under identical experimental conditions. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with various doses of T. gondii ME49. The detection of toxoplasmosis from sera and brain tissues was markedly enhanced in mice subjected to high infection doses (200 and 300 cysts) compared to those subjected to lower doses (10 and 50 cysts) for all the detection methods. Additionally, increased B1 gene expression levels and cyst sizes were observed in the brain tissues of the mice. Importantly, IHC, IF, and ELISA, but not RT-PCR, successfully detected T. gondii infections at the lowest infection dose (10 cysts) in the brain. These findings may prove beneficial while designing experimental methodologies for detecting T. gondii infections in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Ji Kang
- Center for Translational Antiviral Research, Georgia State University Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30303,
USA
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Gi-Deok Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute (CRI), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute (CRI), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
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24
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Su D, Zhu S, Hou Z, Hao F, Xu K, Xu F, Zhu Y, Liu D, Xu J, Tao J. Toxoplasma gondii infection regulates apoptosis of host cells via miR-185/ARAF axis. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:371. [PMID: 37858158 PMCID: PMC10585723 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05991-y] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis with a worldwide presence that is caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Active regulation of apoptosis is an important immune mechanism by which host cells resist the growth of T. gondii or avoid excessive pathological damage induced by this parasite. Previous studies found that upregulated expression of microRNA-185 (miR-185) during T. gondii infection has a potential role in regulating the expression of the ARAF gene, which is reported to be associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS The expression levels of miR-185 and the ARAF gene were evaluated by qPCR and Western blot, respectively, in mice tissues, porcine kidney epithelial cells (PK-15) and porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21) following infection with the T. gondii ToxoDB#9 and RH strains. The dual luciferase reporter assay was then used to verify the relationship between miR-185 and ARAF targets in PK-15 cells. PK-15 and 3D4/21 cell lines with stable knockout of the ARAF gene were established by CRISPR, and then the apoptosis rates of the cells following T. gondii infection were detected using cell flow cytometry assays. Simultaneously, the activities of cleaved caspase-3, as a key apoptosis executive protein, were detected by Western blot to evaluate the apoptosis levels of cells. RESULTS Infection with both the T. gondii ToxoDB#9 and RH strains induced an increased expression of miR-185 and a decreased expression of ARAF in mice tissues, PK-15 and 3D4/21 cells. MiR-185 mimic transfections showed a significantly negative correlation in expression levels between miR-185 and the ARAF gene. The dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that ARAF was a target of miR-185. Functional investigation revealed that T. gondii infection induced the apoptosis of PK-15 and 3D4/21 cells, which could be inhibited by ARAF knockout or overexpression of miR-185. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 protein were significantly lower in cells with ARAF knockout than in normal cells, which were consistent with the results of the cell flow cytometry assays. CONCLUSIONS Toxoplasma gondii infection could lead to the upregulation of miR-185 and the downregulation of ARAF, which was not related to the strain of T. gondii and the host cells. Toxoplasma gondii infection could regulate the apoptosis of host cells via the miR-185/ARAF axis, which represents an additional strategy used by T. gondii to counteract host-cell apoptosis in order to maintain survival and reproduce in the host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingzeyang Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shifan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhaofeng Hou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fuxing Hao
- Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, 225300 People’s Republic of China
| | - Kangzhi Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuyang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
- International Research Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 People’s Republic of China
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25
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Değirmenci Döşkaya A, Can H, Gül A, Karakavuk T, Güvendi M, Karakavuk M, Gül C, Erkunt Alak S, Ün C, Gürüz AY, Döşkaya M. A preliminary study to develop a lateral flow assay using recombinant GRA1 protein for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in stray cats. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 101:102057. [PMID: 37647822 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102057] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that may infect many mammals including humans. Cats are one of the main sources of infection for humans. Therefore, routine screening of cats with tests that are inexpensive, rapid, and do not require sophisticated laboratory equipment is important. In this study, a lateral flow assay (LFA) was designed to rapidly diagnose toxoplasmosis in cats. For this purpose, we selected GRA1 protein of T. gondii due to its high antigenicity in diagnostic and vaccine studies. We further analyzed the immunological properties of GRA1 protein using in silico tools. Then, we expressed and purified recombinant GRA1 (rGRA1) protein and used it during the development of LFA to detect toxoplasmosis in serum samples (n = 40) of cats. According to the results, rGRA1 protein has negative GRAVY value, high aliphatic index, alpha helix, random coil and 12 B cell epitopes. The in silico data supported the high antigenic properties of rGRA1 protein and showed that it can be a good antigen candidate for LFA. Among 30 cat positive serum samples, 27 were found positive by the LFA while seronegative sera (n = 10) were negative by the LFA. The preliminary data showed that the LFA has high sensitivity (90 %) and specificity (100 %). When we used high responsive cat sera (i.e. sera that have optical density > 0.5 with ELISA) the sensitivity value reached 100 %. These results showed that rGRA1 protein is a good candidate to develop a LFA for rapid diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysu Değirmenci Döşkaya
- Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Can
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey.
| | - Aytül Gül
- Ege University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Department of Bioengineering, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Engineering Department of Bioengineering, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Tuğba Karakavuk
- Ege University Graduate Faculty of Natural and Applied Science Biotechnology Program, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Güvendi
- Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Karakavuk
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Ödemiş Vocational School, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ceren Gül
- Ege University Graduate Faculty of Natural and Applied Science Biotechnology Program, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Sedef Erkunt Alak
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Cemal Ün
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Adnan Yüksel Gürüz
- Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
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26
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Sousa DER, Wilson TM, Macêdo IL, Romano APM, Ramos DG, Passos PHO, Costa GRT, Fonseca VS, Mares-Guia MAMM, Giovanetti M, Alcantara LCJ, de Filippis AMB, Paludo GR, Melo CB, Castro MB. Case report: Urbanized non-human primates as sentinels for human zoonotic diseases: a case of acute fatal toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging marmoset in coinfection with yellow fever virus. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1236384. [PMID: 37670831 PMCID: PMC10475956 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1236384] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging non-human primates (NHP) can live in anthropized areas or urban environments in close contact with human populations. This condition can enable the emergence and transmission of high-impact zoonotic pathogens. For the first time, we detected a coinfection of the yellow fever (YF) virus with Toxoplasma gondii in a free-ranging NHP in a highly urbanized area of a metropolis in Brazil. Specifically, we observed this coinfection in a black-tufted marmoset found dead and taken for a necropsy by the local health surveillance service. After conducting an epidemiological investigation, characterizing the pathological features, and performing molecular assays, we confirmed that the marmoset developed an acute fatal infection caused by T. gondii in coinfection with a new YF virus South American-1 sub-lineage. As a result, we have raised concerns about the public health implications of these findings and discussed the importance of diagnosis and surveillance of zoonotic agents in urbanized NHPs. As competent hosts of zoonotic diseases such as YF and environmental sentinels for toxoplasmosis, NHPs play a crucial role in the One Health framework to predict and prevent the emergence of dangerous human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi E. R. Sousa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tais M. Wilson
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Isabel L. Macêdo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Alessandro P. M. Romano
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Daniel G. Ramos
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. O. Passos
- Technical Group of Arbovirus Surveillance, General Coordination of Communicable Diseases, Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Gabriela R. T. Costa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Environmental Health Surveillance Directorate of the Federal District, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Vagner S. Fonseca
- Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/Organização Mundial da Saúde, Brasília, Brazil
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Giovanetti
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, University of Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Arbovírus e Vírus Hemorrágicos (LARBOH), Instituto Osawldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria B. de Filippis
- Laboratório de Arbovírus e Vírus Hemorrágicos (LARBOH), Instituto Osawldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Giane R. Paludo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Cristiano B. Melo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Márcio B. Castro
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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27
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Panazzolo GK, Kmetiuk LB, Domingues OJ, Farinhas JH, Doline FR, França DAD, Rodrigues NJL, Biondo LM, Giuffrida R, Langoni H, Santarém VA, Biondo AW, Fávero GM. One Health Approach in Serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii in Former Black Slave (Quilombola) Communities in Southern Brazil and Among Their Dogs. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:377. [PMID: 37505673 PMCID: PMC10386098 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8070377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Brazilian quilombos are rural semi-isolated remnant communities of former black slaves and their descendants who traditionally maintained themselves through archaic subsistence livestock and agriculture practices and historically lacked specific public health policies. Although such individuals and their dogs may be exposed to zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, no study to date has assessed these human-animal populations together. Populations in four different Brazilian quilombos in southern Brazil were evaluated. Overall, 93/208 people (44.7%) and 63/100 dogs (63.0%) were seropositive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), 4/208 (1.9%) human samples seropositive for IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, with a human-dog seropositivity ratio for IgG of 0.71. Quilombola individuals ingesting game meat were 2.43-fold more likely (95% CI: 1.05-5.9) to be seropositive. No risk factors were associated with seropositivity among dogs, thus suggesting that their exposure to T. gondii was random. Surprisingly, our research group had previously found an inverted human-dog ratio for T. gondii seropositivity of 2.54 in the urban area of a nearby major city. Because consumption of raw/undercooked game meat by quilombola individuals may have contributed to higher exposure, higher overall seroprevalence among dogs may have also indicated interaction with wildlife. Although these dogs may hunt wildlife without their owners' awareness, the higher dog seropositivity may also be related to feeding from discarded food in the community or backyard livestock animals and drinking surface water contaminated with oocysts. Thus, wildlife cannot be singled out as the reason, and future studies should consider sampling water, soil, wildlife, and livestock tissues, to fully establish the source of infection in dogs herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Kalempa Panazzolo
- Graduate College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81530-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Orlei José Domingues
- Graduate College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - João Henrique Farinhas
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81530-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigo Doline
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81530-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Danilo Alves de França
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Leandro Meneguelli Biondo
- National Institute of the Atlantic Forest (INMA), Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Santa Teresa 29650-000, ES, Brazil
| | - Rogério Giuffrida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente 19001-970, SP, Brazil
| | - Helio Langoni
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-681, SP, Brazil
| | - Vamilton Alvares Santarém
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente 19001-970, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81530-000, PR, Brazil
| | - Giovani Marino Fávero
- Graduate College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
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28
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Zhu S, VanWormer E, Martínez-López B, Bahia-Oliveira LMG, DaMatta RA, Rodrigues PS, Shapiro K. Quantitative Risk Assessment of Oocyst Versus Bradyzoite Foodborne Transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in Brazil. Pathogens 2023; 12:870. [PMID: 37513717 PMCID: PMC10384504 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite. Infection with T. gondii can cause congenital toxoplasmosis in developing fetuses and acute outbreaks in the general population, and the disease burden is especially high in South America. Prior studies found that the environmental stage of T. gondii, oocysts, is an important source of infection in Brazil; however, no studies have quantified this risk relative to other parasite stages. We developed a Bayesian quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to estimate the relative attribution of the two primary parasite stages (bradyzoite and oocyst) that can be transmitted in foods to people in Brazil. Oocyst contamination in fruits and greens contributed significantly more to overall estimated T. gondii infections than bradyzoite-contaminated foods (beef, pork, poultry). In sensitivity analysis, treatment, i.e., cooking temperature for meat and washing efficiency for produce, most strongly affected the estimated toxoplasmosis incidence rate. Due to the lack of regional food contamination prevalence data and the high level of uncertainty in many model parameters, this analysis provides an initial estimate of the relative importance of food products. Important knowledge gaps for oocyst-borne infections were identified and can drive future studies to improve risk assessments and effective policy actions to reduce human toxoplasmosis in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Beatriz Martínez-López
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | | | - Renato Augusto DaMatta
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Pedro Souto Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Karen Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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29
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Hänggeli KPA, Hemphill A, Müller N, Heller M, Uldry AC, Braga-Lagache S, Müller J, Boubaker G. Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii RH Wild-Type and Four SRS29B (SAG1) Knock-Out Clones Reveals Significant Differences between Individual Strains. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10454. [PMID: 37445632 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In T. gondii, as well as in other model organisms, gene knock-out using CRISPR-Cas9 is a suitable tool to identify the role of specific genes. The general consensus implies that only the gene of interest is affected by the knock-out. Is this really the case? In a previous study, we generated knock-out (KO) clones of TgRH88_077450 (SRS29B; SAG1) which differed in the numbers of the integrated dihydrofolate-reductase-thymidylate-synthase (MDHFR-TS) drug-selectable marker. Clones 18 and 33 had a single insertion of MDHFR-TS within SRS29B. Clone 6 was disrupted by the insertion of a short unrelated DNA-sequence, but the marker was integrated elsewhere. In clone 30, the marker was inserted into SRS29B, and several other MDHFR-TS copies were found in the genome. KO and wild-type (WT) tachyzoites had similar shapes, dimensions, and vitality. This prompted us to investigate the impact of genetic engineering on the overall proteome patterns of the four clones as compared to the respective WT. Comparative shotgun proteomics of the five strains was performed. Overall, 3236 proteins were identified. Principal component analysis of the proteomes revealed five distinct clusters corresponding to the five strains by both iTop3 and iLFQ algorithms. Detailed analysis of the differentially expressed proteins revealed that the target of the KO, srs29B, was lacking in all KO clones. In addition to this protein, 20 other proteins were differentially expressed between KO clones and WT or between different KO clones. The protein exhibiting the highest variation between the five strains was srs36D encoded by TgRH_016110. The deregulated expression of SRS36D was further validated by quantitative PCR. Moreover, the transcript levels of three other selected SRS genes, namely SRS36B, SRS46, and SRS57, exhibited significant differences between individual strains. These results indicate that knocking out a given gene may affect the expression of other genes. Therefore, care must be taken when specific phenotypes are regarded as a direct consequence of the KO of a given gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Pascal Alexander Hänggeli
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Müller
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Manfred Heller
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (PMSCF), Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Christine Uldry
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (PMSCF), Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Braga-Lagache
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (PMSCF), Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Müller
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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30
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Berrouch S, Escotte-Binet S, Biary A, Nast E, Laaouidi Y, Aubert D, Maarouf A, Harrak R, Villena I, Hafid J. Investigation of the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in drinking waters in the region of Marrakech, Morocco. J Food Prot 2023:100112. [PMID: 37286083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The association between the parasitic illnesses and the consumption of contaminated water has been largely reported. However, there is still a lack of studies investigating the extent of parasitic contamination in water in Morocco. This is the first study in Morocco that aimed at assessing the presence of protozoan parasites, namely Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii, in drinking water consumed in the region of Marrakech. Samples processing was performed by membrane filtration and qPCR detection. A total of 104 drinking water samples (tap water, well and spring waters) was collected between 2016 and 2020. The analysis revealed an overall protozoa contamination rate of 67.3% (70/104), of which 35 samples were positive for Giardia duodenalis, 18 for Toxoplasma gondii and 17 for both parasites. Whereas no sample was positive for Cryptosporidium spp. This first study showed that drinking water in the region of Marrakech contained parasites which could represent a risk for consumers. For better understanding and estimation of the risk encountered by local inhabitants, further studies concerned with (oo)cyst viability, infectivity and genotype identification need to be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Berrouch
- Bioresources and Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco; Ecole Supérieure de Technologie Kelaa des Sraghna, Cadi Ayyad University, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Morocco
| | - Sandie Escotte-Binet
- Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, EA 7510 ESCAPE, SFR CAP-SANTE, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Reims, Hospital Maison Blanche, National Reference Centre of Toxoplasmosis, 51097, Reims, France
| | - Abdelkader Biary
- Bioresources and Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Eva Nast
- Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, EA 7510 ESCAPE, SFR CAP-SANTE, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Reims, Hospital Maison Blanche, National Reference Centre of Toxoplasmosis, 51097, Reims, France
| | - Younes Laaouidi
- Bioresources and Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Dominique Aubert
- Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, EA 7510 ESCAPE, SFR CAP-SANTE, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Reims, Hospital Maison Blanche, National Reference Centre of Toxoplasmosis, 51097, Reims, France
| | - Abdelmalek Maarouf
- Bioresources and Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Rajae Harrak
- Regional Laboratory for Epidemiological Diagnosis and Environmental Health, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, EA 7510 ESCAPE, SFR CAP-SANTE, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Reims, Hospital Maison Blanche, National Reference Centre of Toxoplasmosis, 51097, Reims, France
| | - Jamaleddine Hafid
- Bioresources and Food Safety Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco.
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Doline FR, Farinhas JH, Biondo LM, de Oliveira PRF, Rodrigues NJL, Patrício KP, Mota RA, Langoni H, Pettan-Brewer C, Giuffrida R, Santarém VA, de Castro WAC, dos Santos AP, Kmetiuk LB, Biondo AW. Toxoplasma gondii exposure in Brazilian indigenous populations, their dogs, environment, and healthcare professionals. One Health 2023; 16:100567. [PMID: 37363212 PMCID: PMC10288134 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Toxoplasma gondii exposure has been reported in indigenous populations worldwide, a One Health approach has not been applied to date. This study concurrently assessed T. gondii exposure in indigenous populations, and their dogs, environment, and indigenous or non-indigenous healthcare professionals (HPs). Human and dog serum samples from 9 indigenous communities in Brazil were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test for anti-T. gondii antibodies. Soil samples (30 per community) were processed with PCR to amplify T. gondii DNA. Associated risk factors and seroprevalence were analyzed using logistic regression models. Human seropositivity and type of water source were assessed by generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with binomial error distribution, and game meat consumption with chi-squared test. Overall, 225/463 (49%) indigenous persons were seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies. Of all the HPs, 67/168 (40%) were positive, and included 54/147 (37%) positive non-indigenous HPs. Indigenous persons more likely to be seropositive compared with non-indigenous HPs (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.11-2.39). A total of 97/253 (38%) dogs were seropositive and highly associated with seropositive owners (p < 0.001). Based on univariate analysis for indigenous individuals, state location of community (p < 0.001), ethnicity (p < 0.001), consumption of game meat (p < 0.001), type of water source (p < 0.001), and educational level (p = 0.026) were associated with seropositivity. Logistic regression showed that indigenous seropositivity was associated with eating game meat (p = 0.002), drinking water from rivers (p < 0.001), and inversely proportional to the educational level. According to univariate analysis for non-indigenous HP, age (p = 0.005), frequency of visits to the indigenous populations (p < 0.001), consumption of water at the indigenous communities (p < 0.001), and ingestion of raw meat (p = 0.023) were associated with T. gondii seropositivity. Logistic regression revealed living outdoors (p = 0.042), habit of hunting (p = 0.008), and drinking river water (p = 0.007) as risk factors associated to seropositivity in dogs. In addition, indigenous communities lacking water treatment had higher seroprevalence for all groups including indigenous persons (GLMM; z = -7.153; p < 0.001), their dogs (GLMM; z = -2.405; p = 0.0162), and all HPs (GLMM; z = -2.420; p = 0.0155). Human seropositivity was associated with that of their dogs (p < 0.001). A single soil sample, out of 270 (0.37%), was positive for T. gondii by PCR. Our results indicate water source is a risk for human and dog toxoplasmosis in indigenous communities; both share similar exposure. Moreover, quality water access was shown to be crucial to prevent toxoplasmosis in both total and non-indigenous HPs who work in these indigenous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Rodrigo Doline
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - João Henrique Farinhas
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Leandro Meneguelli Biondo
- National Institute of the Atlantic Forest (INMA), Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Santa Teresa, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | | | - Nássarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues
- Department for Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine department for Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Karina Pavão Patrício
- Department of Public Health, Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo Aparecido Mota
- Graduate College of Animal Bioscience, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Helio Langoni
- Department for Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine department for Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Christina Pettan-Brewer
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rogério Giuffrida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Vamilton Alvares Santarém
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Wagner Antônio Chiba de Castro
- Latin-American Institute of Life and Nature Sciences, Federal University for Latin American Integration, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Graduate College of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Villa L, Allievi C, Gazzonis AL, Ventura G, Gradassi M, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Serological Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) Hunted in a Highly Anthropized Area in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1730. [PMID: 37889677 PMCID: PMC10251892 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing expansion into urban and rural areas, wild boars represent a potential source of infection with zoonotic and animal-specific parasites for both humans and animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the serological prevalence to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in blood samples from wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in an anthropized area in Italy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were used to detect antibodies anti-T. gondii and anti-S. scabiei and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for antibodies anti-N. caninum. 81 out of 128 wild boars (P = 63.3%) resulted positive for at least one of the three parasites. 68 of them were seropositive to T. gondii (P = 53.1%) and 14 to N. caninum (P = 10.9%). 9 wild boars resulted seropositive to S. scabiei var. suis (P = 7.0%). Sampling season was the only significant risk factor related to S. scabiei var. suis seroprevalence (OR = 7.8). The high occurrence of T. gondii supports the role of this species as a source of infection for other animals and humans. Furthermore, the serological prevalence of N. caninum and S. scabiei var. suis in wild boars from the study area characterized by the presence of numerous dairy cattle and pig farms is relevant to demonstrate its suitability for the circulation of these parasites both in domestic and wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Carolina Allievi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Alessia Libera Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Giordano Ventura
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Cardinal Massaia 7, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (G.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Matteo Gradassi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Cardinal Massaia 7, 26100 Cremona, Italy; (G.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Sergio Aurelio Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (C.A.); (A.L.G.); (S.A.Z.)
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Brito C, Lourenço C, Magalhães J, Reis S, Borges M. Nanoparticles as a Delivery System of Antigens for the Development of an Effective Vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040733. [PMID: 37112645 PMCID: PMC10142924 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles include particles ranging in size from nanometers to micrometers, whose physicochemical characteristics are optimized to make them appropriate delivery vehicles for drugs or immunogens important in the fight and/or prevention of infectious diseases. There has been a rise in the use of nanoparticles in preventive vaccine formulations as immunostimulatory adjuvants, and as vehicles for immunogen delivery to target immune cells. Toxoplasma is important worldwide, and may cause human toxoplasmosis. In immunocompetent hosts, infection is usually asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised patients it can cause serious neurological and ocular consequences, such as encephalitis and retinochoroiditis. Primary infection during pregnancy may cause abortion or congenital toxoplasmosis. Currently, there is no effective human vaccine against this disease. Evidence has emerged from several experimental studies testing nanovaccines showing them to be promising tools in the prevention of experimental toxoplasmosis. For the present study, a literature review was carried out on articles published over the last 10 years through the PubMed database, pertaining to in vivo experimental models of T. gondii infection where nanovaccines were tested and protection and immune responses evaluated. This review aims to highlight the way forward in the search for an effective vaccine for toxoplasmosis.
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Shams M, Heydaryan S, Bashi MC, Gorgani BN, Ghasemi E, Majidiani H, Nazari N, Irannejad H. In silico design of a novel peptide-based vaccine against the ubiquitous apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii using surface antigens. In Silico Pharmacol 2023; 11:5. [PMID: 36960094 PMCID: PMC10027966 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-023-00140-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Human toxoplasmosis is a global public health concern and a commercial vaccine is still lacking. The present in silico study was done to design a novel vaccine candidate using tachyzoite-specific SAG1-realted sequence (SRS) proteins. Overlapping B-cell and strictly-chosen human MHC-I binding epitopes were predicted and connected together using appropriate spacers. Moreover, a TLR4 agonist, human high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1), and His-tag were added to the N- and C-terminus of the vaccine sequence. The final vaccine had 442 residues and a molecular weight of 47.71 kDa. Physico-chemical evaluation showed a soluble, highly antigenic and non-allergen protein, with coils and helices as secondary structures. The vaccine 3D model was predicted by ITASSER server, subsequently refined and was shown to possess significant interactions with human TLR4. As well, potent stimulation of cellular and humoral immunity was demonstrated upon chimeric vaccine injection. Finally, the outputs showed that this vaccine model possesses top antigenicity, which could provoke significant cell-mediated immune profile including IFN-γ, and can be utilized towards prophylactic purposes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-023-00140-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Saeed Heydaryan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Cheraghchi Bashi
- Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ezatollah Ghasemi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Naser Nazari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Hamid Irannejad
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite that has a significant impact on human and veterinary health. The parasite undergoes a complex life cycle involving multiple hosts and developmental stages. How Toxoplasma transitions between life cycle stages is poorly understood yet central to controlling transmission. Of particular neglect are the factors that contribute to its sexual development, which takes place exclusively in feline intestines. While epigenetic repressors have been shown to play an important role in silencing the spurious gene expression of sexually committed parasites, the specific factors that recruit this generalized machinery to the appropriate genes remain largely unexplored. Here, we establish that a member of the AP2 transcription factor family, AP2XII-2, is targeted to genomic loci associated with sexually committed parasites along with epigenetic regulators of transcriptional silencing, HDAC3 and MORC. Despite its widespread association with gene promoters, AP2XII-2 is required for the silencing of relatively few genes. Using the CUT&Tag (cleavage under targets and tagmentation) methodology, we identify two major genes associated with sexual development downstream of AP2XII-2 control, AP2X-10 and the amino acid hydroxylase AAH1. Our findings show that AP2XII-2 is a key contributor to the gene regulatory pathways modulating Toxoplasma sexual development. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that undergoes its sexual stage exclusively in feline intestines, making cats a major source of transmission. A better understanding of the proteins controlling the parasite's life cycle stage transitions is needed for the development of new therapies aimed at treating toxoplasmosis and the transmission of the infection. Genes that regulate the sexual stages need to be turned on and off at the appropriate times, activities that are mediated by specific transcription factors that recruit general machinery to silence or activate gene expression. In this study, we identify a transcription factor called AP2XII-2 as being important for the repression of a subset of sexual stage genes, including a sexual stage-specific AP2 factor (AP2X-10) and a protein (AAH1) required to construct the infectious oocysts expelled from infected cats.
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Pangracio E, de Macedo V, Alves PK. Pulmonary and Renal Toxoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Adult Patient. J Med Cases 2023; 14:50-53. [PMID: 36896370 PMCID: PMC9990707 DOI: 10.14740/jmc4029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which is one of the most widespread zoonotic pathogens known today. It is a global health hazard as they infect 30-50% of the world's human population. Acute toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic and self-limited in immunocompetent people, recovering without treatment and do not require specific therapy. Therefore, rare complications are associated with infection in the individuals with normal immune systems. However, we present a rare case of an immunocompetent man with acute T. gondii infection confirmed by serology, subsequently presented with two life-threatening organ dysfunctions: severe renal and pulmonary involvement, requiring hospitalization and anti-parasitic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viviane de Macedo
- State Health Care Foundation, Positive University, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
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Qamar W, Alsayeqh AF. A review of foodborne Toxoplasma gondii with a special focus on its prevalence in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1080139. [PMID: 36744224 PMCID: PMC9890071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1080139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Third-world countries have a higher prevalence of food-related disorders than developed nations. Millions of people in underdeveloped countries are seriously at risk from the potential water supply contamination with protozoan diseases. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important protozoans causing diseases in livestock and humans. Despite the standard tests for diagnosing this parasite and different treatment methods, the spread of these parasites is uncontrollable and rising every year due to other management disorders. In this review, we summarize etiopathogenesis and prevalence in Pakistan. We looked for papers reporting the seroprevalence of T. gondii in people and animals between 2000 and 2022 in different databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Pakistan's domestic animals (sheep and goats, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and buffaloes), domestic pets (cats and dogs), poultry and rodents, and humans were gathered. According to the findings, sheep had an estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii that varied from 11.20 to 26.50 %, and goats from 24.50 to 38.40%. Whereas in buffalo the opposite trend was followed, and the prevalence was observed is 0% in 2022, in horses, donkeys, and mules, only one study was reported according to which a high prevalence was observed in mules (28.60%) followed by donkeys (23.50%) and horses (23.50%), in cats 38.5% prevalence was observed in a recent study and in dogs 28.43% observed, and in humans from 22 to 60%. Human beings are found to be the most affected species showing high prevalence among all. According to our findings, animals and pets not only serve as a reservoir for the parasite but also serve as a direct route for human infection with T. gondii. The diagnostic techniques used in the observed studies were mostly serological testing whereas only a few studies have only been observed with molecular testing. To know the exact pattern of the disease for its control, the trend of molecular and advanced testing should be adopted as it is more reliable. Moreover, to decrease the transmission chances of T. gondii to humans, it is crucial to manage T. gondii infections in non-human species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warda Qamar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Abdullah F. Alsayeqh ✉
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Kauter J, Damek F, Schares G, Blaga R, Schott F, Deplazes P, Sidler X, Basso W. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies in pigs using an oral fluid-based commercial ELISA: Advantages and limitations. Int J Parasitol 2022:S0020-7519(22)00183-7. [PMID: 36587725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major food-borne parasite and undercooked meat of infected pigs represents an important source of infection for humans. Since infections in pigs are mostly subclinical, adequate diagnostic tests for use at the farm level are pursued. Oral fluid (OF) was shown to be a promising matrix for direct and indirect detection of infections with various pathogens in pigs. The objective of this study was to assess whether T. gondii infections in pigs could be diagnosed using an indirect ELISA kit adapted for OF samples (OF-ELISA). Routine serology and OF-immunoblot (IB) were used as standards for the comparison. For this, serial OF samples from sows (n = 8) and fatteners (n = 3) experimentally inoculated with T. gondii oocysts, individual field samples from potentially exposed sows (n = 9) and pooled OF samples from potentially exposed group-housed fatteners (n = 195 pig groups, including 2,248 animals) were analysed for antibodies against T. gondii by ELISA. For individual animals, OF-ELISA exhibited a relative diagnostic specificity of 97.3% and a relative diagnostic sensitivity of 78.8%. In experimentally infected animals, positive OF-ELISA results were observed from 1.5 weeks post inoculation (pi) until the end of the experimental setup (8 to 30 weeks pi); however, values below the estimated cut-off were occasionally observed in some animals despite constant seropositivity. In potentially exposed individual animals, OF- and serum-ELISA results showed 100% agreement. In group-housed fatteners, antibodies against T. gondii could be reliably detected by OF-ELISA in groups in which at least 25% of the animals were seropositive. This OF-ELISA, based on a commercially available serum-ELISA, may represent an interesting non-invasive screening tool for detecting pig groups with a high exposure to T. gondii at the farm level. The OF-ELISA may need further adjustments to consistently detect individual infected pigs, probably due to variations in OF antibody concentration over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Kauter
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Filip Damek
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald‑Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Radu Blaga
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Franziska Schott
- Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xaver Sidler
- Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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Rossi GAM, de Freitas Costa E, Gabriël S, Braga FR. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Occurrence of Toxoplasmosis in Animals Slaughtered in Brazilian Abattoirs. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223102. [PMID: 36428329 PMCID: PMC9686893 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is mainly transmitted to human beings through the consumption of contaminated food, and several outbreaks caused by infected meat consumption have been reported in Brazil. We performed a systematic literature review on the prevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in slaughtered animals and performed a meta-analysis of its prevalence for different species and regions. Furthermore, we also discussed the infectivity of seropositive animals, risk factors, and preventive strategies. In the meta-analysis, the overall prevalence estimates for poultry, ostrich, goats, swine, equids, sheep, and bovines were 42.4, 40.4, 23.0, 19.9, 19.1, 17.3, and 16.2%, respectively. Regarding the Brazilian regions, the highest prevalence values were detected for bovines and equids in the South (32.3 and 34.4%, respectively) and swine, goats, sheep, and poultry in the Northeast (29.3, 23.0, 22.9, and 69.8%%, respectively). High proportions of Toxoplasma gondii viability in bioassay conducted on seropositive animals were seen for sheep (34/40 = 85%) and swine (12/15 = 80%). Toxoplasma gondii infections are widespread on Brazilian farms, and the summarized data allow the establishment of high-priority areas and/or species for the adoption of preventive strategies to control this parasite at different levels of the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Augusto Marques Rossi
- University Vila Velha (UVV), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Avenue Comissário José Dantas de Melo, Number 21, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil
- Correspondence: author:
| | - Eduardo de Freitas Costa
- Department of Epidemiology, Bio-Informatics and Animal Models, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Gabriël
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Fábio Ribeiro Braga
- University Vila Velha (UVV), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Avenue Comissário José Dantas de Melo, Number 21, Vila Velha 29102-920, Brazil
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Recombinant AMA1 Virus-like Particle Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112812. [PMID: 36359332 PMCID: PMC9687185 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis diagnosis predominantly relies on serology testing via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but these results are highly variable. Consequently, various antigens are being evaluated to improve the sensitivity and specificity of toxoplasmosis serological diagnosis. Here, we generated Toxoplasma gondii virus-like particles displaying AMA1 of T. gondii and evaluated their diagnostic potential. We found that AMA1 VLPs were highly sensitive and reacted with the sera acquired from mice infected with either T. gondii ME49 or RH strains. The overall IgG and IgM antibody responses elicited by AMA1 VLPs were substantially higher than those induced by the conventionally used T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA). Importantly, AMA1 VLPs were capable of detecting parasitic infection with T. gondii RH and ME49 as early as 1 week post-infection, even when mice were exposed to low infectious doses (5 × 103 and 10 cysts, respectively). AMA1 VLPs also did not cross-react with the immune sera acquired from Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Compared to TLA, stronger antibody responses were induced by AMA1 VLPs when tested using T. gondii-infected human sera. The sensitivities and specificities of the two antigens were substantially different, with AMA1 VLPs demonstrating over 90% sensitivity and specificity, whereas these values were in the 70% range for the TLA. These results indicated that AMA1 VLPs can detect infections of both T. gondii ME49 and RH at an early stage of infection caused by very low infection doses in mice, and these could be used for serological diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.
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Mazzone F, Simons VE, van Geelen L, Frank M, Mándi A, Kurtán T, Pfeffer K, Kalscheuer R. In Vitro Biological Activity of Natural Products from the Endophytic Fungus Paraboeremia selaginellae against Toxoplasma gondii. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091176. [PMID: 36139955 PMCID: PMC9495004 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan pathogen able to infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans, leading to toxoplasmosis. Current treatments for toxoplasmosis are associated with severe side-effects and a lack efficacy to eradicate chronic infection. Thus, there is an urgent need for developing novel, highly efficient agents against toxoplasmosis with low toxicity. For decades, natural products have been a useful source of novel bioactive compounds for the treatment of infectious pathogens. In the present study, we isolated eight natural products from the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Paraboeremia selaginellae obtained from the leaves of the plant Philodendron monstera. The natural products were tested for inhibiting Toxoplasma gondii proliferation, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in different human cell lines. Six natural products showed antitoxoplasma activity with low or no cytotoxicity in human cell lines. Together, these findings indicate that biphenyl ethers, bioxanthracenes, and 5S,6S-phomalactone from P. selaginellae are potential candidates for novel anti-toxoplasma drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Mazzone
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Viktor E. Simons
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Lasse van Geelen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Marian Frank
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Attila Mándi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Debrecen, 4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tibor Kurtán
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Debrecen, 4002 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Klaus Pfeffer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (K.P.); (R.K.); Tel.: +49-211-8112459 (K.P.); +49-211-8114180 (R.K.)
| | - Rainer Kalscheuer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (K.P.); (R.K.); Tel.: +49-211-8112459 (K.P.); +49-211-8114180 (R.K.)
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42
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Sultana S, González-Parra G, Arenas AJ. Dynamics of toxoplasmosis in the cat's population with an exposed stage and a time delay. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2022; 19:12655-12676. [PMID: 36654016 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2022591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We propose a new mathematical model to investigate the effect of the introduction of an exposed stage for the cats who become infected with the T. gondii parasite, but that are not still able to produce oocysts in the environment. The model considers a time delay in order to represent the duration of the exposed stage. Besides the cat population the model also includes the oocysts related to the T. gondii in the environment. The model includes the cats since they are the only definitive host and the oocysts, since they are relevant to the dynamics of toxoplasmosis. The model considers lifelong immunity for the recovered cats and vaccinated cats. In addition, the model considers that cats can get infected through an effective contact with the oocysts in the environment. We find conditions such that the toxoplasmosis disease becomes extinct. We analyze the consequences of considering the exposed stage and the time delay on the stability of the equilibrium points. We numerically solve the constructed model and corroborated the theoretical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmin Sultana
- Department of Mathematics, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico, 87801, USA
| | | | - Abraham J Arenas
- Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
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43
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Protozoa as the “Underdogs” for Microbiological Quality Evaluation of Fresh Vegetables. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12147145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The monitoring of the microbial quality of fresh products in the industrial environment has mainly focused on bacterial indicators. Protozoa, such as Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Cyclospora cayetanensis, are routinely excluded from detection and surveillance systems, despite guidelines and regulations that support the need for tracking and monitoring these pathogens in fresh food products. Previous studies performed by our laboratory, within the scope of the SafeConsume project, clearly indicated that consumption of fresh produce may be a source of T. gondii, thus posing a risk for the contraction of toxoplasmosis for susceptible consumers. Therefore, preliminary work was performed in order to assess the microbiological quality of vegetables, highlighting not only bacteria (Escherichia. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp.), but also the zoonotic protozoa G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Although all samples were found to be acceptable based on bacteriological parameters, cysts of G. duodenalis and oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were observed in vegetables. Moreover, it was possible to genetically characterize G. duodenalis positive samples as assemblage A, a genotype that poses risks to human health. Although these are preliminary results, they highlight the need to include protozoa in the microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, as required by EU Law No. 1441/2007, and to improve inactivation and removal procedures of (oo)cysts in fresh produce and water.
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McCall J, Rothfeldt L, Giesbrecht K, Hunt A, Bauck L, Scheftel J, Birn R, Buss B, Schroeder B, Haupt TE, Klos R, Straily A. Public Health Surveillance and Reporting for Human Toxoplasmosis — Six States, 2021. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2022; 71:889-893. [PMID: 35834417 PMCID: PMC9290386 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7128a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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45
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Castello A, Fazio E, Alfonzetti T, Giunta RP, Salvaggio A, Ferlazzo AM, Cravana C, Bruschetta G, Medica P, Marino AMF. Assessment of selected molecular factors and 17-β estradiol dosage in response to Toxoplasma gondii infection in swine. Vet World 2022; 15:1641-1649. [PMID: 36185508 PMCID: PMC9394144 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1641-1649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Toxoplasma gondii is a global zoonotic parasite infecting virtually all warm-blooded species, although a species-specific variability is evident referring to symptoms frame. Both the success of T. gondii and the outcome of infection depend on a delicate balance between host cellular pathways and the evasion or modulation strategies elicited by the parasite. The hormonal and molecular mechanisms involved in this delicate host-parasite balance are still unclear, especially when considering intermediate host species other than mouse. This study aimed to assess any correlation between T. gondii infection and selected molecular and hormonal factors involved in responses to infection in susceptible species such as swine. Moreover, blood counts and hematochemical assays (glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides dosage) were performed to evaluate the overall health condition of animals. Materials and Methods: Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies determination and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for T. gondii DNA detection. Target genes coding for key factors of cell responses to T. gondii infection were selected, and their transcription was assessed in various tissues by quantitative RT-PCR. 17-β estradiol concentrations were assessed by fluorimetric enzyme-linked immunoassay and the AIA-360 automated immunoassay analyzer. Blood count and hematochemical analyses were performed by a blood cell counter and a spectrophotometer, respectively. Results: The present research highlighted significant differences among infected and uninfected swine (control group) for both transcription profiles of some of the molecular factors considered and 17-β estradiol concentrations. Referring to the assessed hematological and biochemical parameters, no statistically significant differences were observed in infected swine compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results contribute to the enrichment of data available about the subject and could be useful for a deeper knowledge of the interaction between this parasite and its hosts. However, more aspects are still unclear, such as the effective response of downstream molecules from the same pathways to the variation of factors observed in this study either assessing how the same factors respond to Toxoplasma gondii infection in other host speciesand further analyses should be performed on other host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Castello
- Department of Catania, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia, Catania, Italy
| | - Esterina Fazio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - Tiziana Alfonzetti
- Department of Catania, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia, Catania, Italy
| | - Renato Paolo Giunta
- Department of Catania, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Salvaggio
- Department of Catania, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Sicilia, Catania, Italy
| | - Alida Maria Ferlazzo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - Cristina Cravana
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bruschetta
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - Pietro Medica
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy
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Bangoura B, Bhuiya MAI, Kilpatrick M. Eimeria infections in domestic and wild ruminants with reference to control options in domestic ruminants. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2207-2232. [PMID: 35680677 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07564-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Eimeria infections are commonly seen in a variety of mammalian hosts. This genus of unicellular sporozoan parasites causes significant disease (coccidiosis) in different livestock species leading to economic losses for agricultural producers. Especially the production of cattle, sheep, and goat is strongly dependent on efficient coccidiosis control. However, many other livestock hosts like, e.g., camelids, bison, rabbits, and guinea pigs may benefit from reduced parasite transmission and targeted control measures as well. Besides livestock, also wildlife and pet animals may be affected by Eimeria infections resulting in clinical or subclinical coccidiosis. Wildlife herd health is crucial to conservation efforts, and Eimeria species are a prevalent pathogen in multiple mammalian wildlife species. This review aims to highlight the epidemiology of mammalian Eimeria infections in both wild and domestic ruminants, including host specificity, transmission, survival of environmental oocysts, occurrence, and risk factors for infection. Understanding general drivers of Eimeria infection may support adequate livestock and wildlife management. Furthermore, control options for livestock with reference to management factors, drug application, and alternative approaches are discussed. The goal of Eimeria control should be to reduce pathogen transmission in different host species and to improve sustainable livestock production. Controlling Eimeria infections in livestock is important considering both their animal welfare impact and their high economic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Bangoura
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA.
| | - Md Ashraful Islam Bhuiya
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
| | - Michelle Kilpatrick
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
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47
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Surveillance of berries sold on the Norwegian market for parasite contamination using molecular methods. Food Microbiol 2022; 104:103980. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.103980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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48
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Fernández-Escobar M, Schares G, Maksimov P, Joeres M, Ortega-Mora LM, Calero-Bernal R. Toxoplasma gondii Genotyping: A Closer Look Into Europe. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:842595. [PMID: 35402301 PMCID: PMC8984497 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.842595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major zoonotic agent which may cause harmful effects mainly in pregnant and immunocompromised hosts. Despite many efforts on its genetic characterization, an entirely clear picture of the population structure in Europe has not been achieved yet. The present study aimed to summarize the available genotyping information and to map the distribution of circulating strains. There is consensus on type II T. gondii genotypes prevailing in Europe, but the absence of harmonization in the use of typing methods limits detailed knowledge. Standardized, high-end typing tools and integrative strategies are needed to fill the gaps and complete an accurate image of the T. gondii genetic population in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gereon Schares
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Maike Joeres
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rafael Calero-Bernal,
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49
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Suwan E, Chalermwong P, Rucksaken R, Sussadee M, Kaewmongkol S, Udonsom R, Jittapalapong S, Mangkit B. Development and evaluation of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant dense granule antigen 7 protein for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats in Thailand. Vet World 2022; 15:602-610. [PMID: 35497967 PMCID: PMC9047132 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.602-610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Toxoplasma gondii is recognized as a zoonosis causing toxoplasmosis in animals globally. Cat is a definitive host of T. gondii and sheds oocyst through feces, which can infect human beings and animals through contaminated food ingestion. A precise diagnostic test is essential to prevent T. gondii infection in both humans and animals. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the pETite-dense granule antigen 7(GRA7)-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect T. gondii infection in cats. Materials and Methods: T. gondii-GRA7 was cloned and expressed in the Expresso®small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) T7 Cloning and Expression System. The recombinant pETite-GRA7 was purified using HisTrap affinity chromatography and confirmed using Western blot analysis. The recombinant protein was used to develop and evaluate the indirect ELISA for T. gondii infection detection. In total, 200 cat sera were tested using pETite-GRA7-based indirect ELISA and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The statistical analysis based on Kappa value, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, χ2 test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the test. Results: A 606 bp GRA7 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was obtained from T. gondii RH strain genomic DNA. The gene was cloned into the pETite™ vector and transformed to HI-Control Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) for protein expression. Approximately 35 kDa of recombinant pETite-GRA7 was observed and Western blot analysis showed positive bands against anti-6-His antibody and positive-T. gondii cat serum. A sample of 0.5 μg/mL of pETite-GRA7 was subjected to indirect ELISA to detect T. gondii infection in the cat sera. The results showed sensitivity and specificity of pETite-GRA7-based indirect ELISA at 72% and 96%, respectively. An acceptable diagnostic performance was characterized by high concordant results (94%) and substantial agreement (Kappa value=0.65) with IFAT. The seroprevalence levels of ELISA and IFAT were 10% and 9%, respectively, and were not significantly (p>0.05) different. The expected performance of ELISA at different cutoff points using the ROC curve analysis revealed 89% sensitivity and 92% specificity at the cutoff value of 0.146, with a high overall assay accuracy (area under the curve=0.94). Conclusion: In this study, the pETite™ vector, N-terminal 6xHis SUMO fusion tag, was used to improve the solubility and expression level of GRA7. The recombinant pETite-GRA7 showed enhanced protein solubility and purification without special condition requirements. This pETite-GRA7-based indirect ELISA showed high concordant results and substantial agreement with IFAT. ELISA revealed an acceptable sensitivity and specificity. These initial data obtained from cats’ sera demonstrated that pETite-GRA7-based indirect ELISA could be a useful method for local serological diagnosis of T. gondii infection in cats in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eukote Suwan
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Piangjai Chalermwong
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rucksak Rucksaken
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Metita Sussadee
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarawan Kaewmongkol
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ruenruetai Udonsom
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Bandid Mangkit
- Department of Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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50
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López Ureña NM, Chaudhry U, Calero Bernal R, Cano Alsua S, Messina D, Evangelista F, Betson M, Lalle M, Jokelainen P, Ortega Mora LM, Álvarez García G. Contamination of Soil, Water, Fresh Produce, and Bivalve Mollusks with Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:517. [PMID: 35336093 PMCID: PMC8954419 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major foodborne pathogen capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Although oocyst-associated toxoplasmosis outbreaks have been documented, the relevance of the environmental transmission route remains poorly investigated. Thus, we carried out an extensive systematic review on T. gondii oocyst contamination of soil, water, fresh produce, and mollusk bivalves, following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up to the end of 2020 were searched for in public databases and screened. The reference sections of the selected articles were examined to identify additional studies. A total of 102 out of 3201 articles were selected: 34 articles focused on soil, 40 focused on water, 23 focused on fresh produce (vegetables/fruits), and 21 focused on bivalve mollusks. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were found in all matrices worldwide, with detection rates ranging from 0.09% (1/1109) to 100% (8/8) using bioassay or PCR-based detection methods. There was a high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%), which was influenced by both the sampling strategy (e.g., sampling site and sample type, sample composition, sample origin, season, number of samples, cat presence) and methodology (recovery and detection methods). Harmonized approaches are needed for the detection of T. gondii in different environmental matrices in order to obtain robust and comparable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia María López Ureña
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Rafael Calero Bernal
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Santiago Cano Alsua
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Davide Messina
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Francisco Evangelista
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Martha Betson
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Department, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; (U.C.); or (D.M.); (F.E.); (M.B.)
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy;
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega Mora
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez García
- SALUVET Research Group, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.M.L.U.); (R.C.B.); (L.M.O.M.)
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