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Steffen KD, Basset C, Arias RO, Moré G, Robles MDR, Unzaga JM. Zoonotic nematode in the city of La Plata, Argentina: Report of a case of Calodium hepaticum in Rattus rattus. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 47:100954. [PMID: 38199678 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100954] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
This study describes a case of Calodium hepaticum (Trichinellida: Capillariidae) infection in an adult rat (Rattus rattus) from the periurban area of the city of La Plata in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The rat was found with neurological signs (ataxia, lethargy, and episodes of unresponsiveness) in the food storage of a goat production facility. The liver was observed with hepatomegaly and diffuse and irregular yellowish-white spots appearing in striae or small nodules on the external surface and inside the liver. Subsequent microscopic and histopathological studies were performed. Eggs were observed by direct microscopy of the impression smear of liver tissue. A multifocal granulomatous tissue reaction with different stages of fibrocellular tissue was observed in the liver parenchyma. The granulomas contained adults and degenerated eggs delimited by an intense infiltrate of mononuclear cells. Macro and microscopic observations and histopathological liver lesions were compatible with C. hepaticum infection. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of C. hepaticum infection in R. rattus in Argentina, increasing the host record of this parasite and a new record of distribution in goat production systems in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Denis Steffen
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1425FQB), Argentina; Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agrarian and Forest Sciences-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carina Basset
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1425FQB), Argentina
| | - Rubén Omar Arias
- Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agrarian and Forest Sciences-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gastón Moré
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1425FQB), Argentina; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Langgasssstrasse 122 (3012), Berne, Switzerland.
| | - María Del Rosario Robles
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1425FQB), Argentina; Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - CEPAVE, Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata - UNLP, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Unzaga
- Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science-La Plata National University, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Fantozzi MC, Reguera-Gomez M, Beldomenico PM, Mas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA. Variability of Calodium hepaticum eggs from sigmodontine host species through geometric morphometric analysis. J Helminthol 2022; 96:e75. [PMID: 36250383 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x22000669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Calodium hepaticum is a zoonotic nematode with a worldwide distribution. Although the host range of C. hepaticum includes a wide spectrum of mammals (including humans), this parasite is predominantly associated with the families Muridae and Cricetidae. Several Sigmodontinae species from Argentina were found to be infected by C. hepaticum, with a high prevalence in Akodon azarae. The present study focuses on C. hepaticum eggs from natural infection of three species of sigmodontine rodents from Argentina. Eggs were genetically characterized (intergenic 18S rRNA region). The objectives of this work are: (i) to propose a new analytical methodology; and (ii) to morphologically characterize C. hepaticum eggs, from three Sigmodontinae species (A. azarae, Calomys callidus and Oligoryzomys flavescens). Analyses were made by the Computer Image Analysis System based on the new standardized measurements and geometric morphometric tools. The resulting factor maps clearly illustrate global size differences in the parasite eggs from the three Sigmodontinae species analysed. The degree of similarity between egg populations was assessed through pairwise Mahalanobis distances, showing that the largest distances were detected between parasite eggs from C. callidus and O. flavescens. Herein, the phenotypical plasticity of C. hepaticum eggs is shown. Significant positive correlations were obtained between each egg parasite principal component 1 and rodent corporal characteristics: weight; liver weight; rodent length; and rodent body condition. The usefulness of the geometric morphometric analysis in studies of the relationship between C. hepaticum and its host must be highlighted. The high prevalence observed in A. azarae, associated with the wide size range of the parasite eggs evidenced by principal component analysis, suggests A. azarae to be the Sigmodontinae host species that plays the most important role as reservoir host for C. hepaticum in the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Fantozzi
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET LITORAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral- CONICET, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M Reguera-Gomez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - P M Beldomenico
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET LITORAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral- CONICET, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - S Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Área de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), ISC III, Madrid, Spain
| | - M D Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Área de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), ISC III, Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Valero
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Área de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), ISC III, Madrid, Spain
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