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Musese LJ, Kitegile AS, Kilawe CJ. Ecto parasites of wild rodents in forest sites invaded and uninvaded by Maesopsis eminii in Amani nature forest reserve, Tanzania. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 24:100932. [PMID: 38601057 PMCID: PMC11002661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Parasites are important component of communities in a forest ecosystem with profound effects on trophic interactions such as food web. Modification of the forest structure (e.g. changes in species composition and abundance of key species) can have a strong impact on the occurrence, diversity, and abundance of parasites, with subsequent repercussions for ecosystem functioning. In this study, we compared the occurrence and abundance of wild rodents' ectoparasites from forest sites invaded and uninvaded by an invasive tree, Maesopsis eminii in Amani Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Three large plots (40 m × 100 m) were randomly established in each forest sites invaded and uninvaded by M. eminii. In each plot, 50 Sherman traps were systematically placed at 10 m interval for capturing wild rodents through a capture-mark-recapture technique. Wilcox rank sum test was used to compare for differences in the abundance of infested rodents and ectoparasites between the invaded and uninvaded forest sites. A total of 297 individual rodents were captured and screened for ectoparasites, including 174 rodents from uninvaded forest site and 123 rodents from invaded forest site. The number of infested rodents were significantly (W = 8592, P < 0.001) greater in uninvaded forest site (66.27%) than in the invaded forest site (36.2%). Furthermore, a significant greater number of Echinolaelaps echidninus (W = 1849, P < 0.01) and Dinopsyllus ellobius (W = 2800.5, P < 0.05) ectoparasites were found in uninvaded as compared to the invaded forest sites. The results of this study suggest that the invasion and dominance by, M. eminii in Amani Nature Reserve has created unfavorable conditions for rodents and ectoparasites and therefore impacting the diversity and function of the forest ecosystem. We recommend prevention of further introduction of the M. eminii outside their natural range and mitigating the impact of the established M. eminii in Amani Forest Nature Reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia J. Musese
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Amani S. Kitegile
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
| | - Charles J. Kilawe
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
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Campião KM, Rico JADL, de Souza Monteiro G, Ash LV, Teixeira CP, Gotelli NJ. High prevalence and concomitant infection of Ranavirus and Eustrongylides sp. in the invasive American Bullfrog in Brazil. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102875. [PMID: 38417736 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
American Bullfrogs, Aquarana catesbeiana, are invasive anuran species distributed worldwide. One of the adverse impacts that this species causes in native communities is as a reservoir host for pathogens and parasites. Here, we report the coinfection of two pathogenic organisms in A. catesbeiana: Ranavirus and the nematode Eustrongylides. Bullfrogs were collected in the wild in a pond close to the urban area of São Paulo, Brazil. The prevalence of both pathogens was high: 77% were infected with ranavirus with a mean viral load of 1010.3 viral copies, and 100% of the bullfrogs were infected by Eustrongylides sp. with a mean intensity of infection of 13.4 specimens per host. Four host specimens (31%) presented pathological signs that seemed to be related to the Eustrongylides sp. infection, such as internal organs adhered to each other due to high intensity and large size of the nematodes, ulcers, and raw flesh wounds caused by the nematode. The pathogenic and concomitant infections have potential zoonotic implications and raise concerns about human infection risks for Eustrongylides infection. Moreover, such infections may represent an additional level of threat to native communities through the potential shifts in patterns of parasite and pathogen transmission. Future research involving the native anuran community is essential to ascertain whether invasive bullfrogs are attenuating or exacerbating diseases such as ranavirosis and eustrongylidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Magalhães Campião
- Biological interactions Lab, Department of Zoology Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Lauren V Ash
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05403, USA
| | - Cauê Pinheiro Teixeira
- Biological interactions Lab, Department of Zoology Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Nicholas J Gotelli
- University of Vermont, Department of Biology, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05403, USA
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Sharma S, Krishnaswamy V, Chaturvedi R, Sharma A. Epidemiology of rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens in India. IJID Reg 2024; 11:100359. [PMID: 38646508 PMCID: PMC11026704 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Rare human pathogens are infrequently observed clinically but can lead to undiagnosed infections, delays in treatment, severe complications, including death. Traditional diagnostic tools cannot routinely detect rare infections in public health settings. This study focuses on the incidence and outcomes of rare pathogenic microorganisms over 13 years (2010-2022) using PubMed database to obtain epidemiological data on rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections in hospitals throughout India. A total of 974 articles were screened using case studies, datasets, comments, classical articles, letters, editorials, observational studies, and meta-analyses. Our analysis identified 28 rare bacteria, six parasites, and five fungal species infections in India. Fatal cases were associated with rare bacterial and fungal infections, including two from pan-drug-resistant bacteria (both from the Myroides genus). A total of 10 bacterial species displayed multi-drug resistance; one was extensively drug-resistant, and eight remained unclassified. Of the 83 patients with these rare infections, the mortality was ∼8.4% (seven of 83). Considering drug resistance and high mortality, prompt diagnosis of rare pathogens is crucial to controlling their spread. An increased awareness within the Indian health care system focusing on diagnostics, record keeping, and data sharing will be necessary to enhance surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Sharma
- Molecular Medicine Division, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
| | - Varun Krishnaswamy
- Molecular Medicine Division, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Rini Chaturvedi
- Molecular Medicine Division, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Sharma
- Molecular Medicine Division, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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Madge Pimentel I, Baikova D, Buchner D, Burfeid Castellanos A, David GM, Deep A, Doliwa A, Hadžiomerović U, Mayombo NAS, Prati S, Spyra MA, Vermiert AM, Beisser D, Dunthorn M, Piggott JJ, Sures B, Tiegs SD, Leese F, Beermann AJ. Assessing the response of an urban stream ecosystem to salinization under different flow regimes. Sci Total Environ 2024; 926:171849. [PMID: 38537828 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Urban streams are exposed to a variety of anthropogenic stressors. Freshwater salinization is a key stressor in these ecosystems that is predicted to be further exacerbated by climate change, which causes simultaneous changes in flow parameters, potentially resulting in non-additive effects on aquatic ecosystems. However, the effects of salinization and flow velocity on urban streams are still poorly understood as multiple-stressor experiments are often conducted at pristine rather than urban sites. Therefore, we conducted a mesocosm experiment at the Boye River, a recently restored stream located in a highly urbanized area in Western Germany, and applied recurrent pulses of salinity along a gradient (NaCl, 9 h daily of +0 to +2.5 mS/cm) in combination with normal and reduced current velocities (20 cm/s vs. 10 cm/s). Using a comprehensive assessment across multiple organism groups (macroinvertebrates, eukaryotic algae, fungi, parasites) and ecosystem functions (primary production, organic-matter decomposition), we show that flow velocity reduction has a pervasive impact, causing community shifts for almost all assessed organism groups (except fungi) and inhibiting organic-matter decomposition. Salinization affected only dynamic components of community assembly by enhancing invertebrate emigration via drift and reducing fungal reproduction. We caution that the comparatively small impact of salt in our study can be due to legacy effects from past salt pollution by coal mining activities >30 years ago. Nevertheless, our results suggest that urban stream management should prioritize the continuity of a minimum discharge to maintain ecosystem integrity. Our study exemplifies a holistic approach for the assessment of multiple-stressor impacts on streams, which is needed to inform the establishment of a salinity threshold above which mitigation actions must be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Madge Pimentel
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Daria Baikova
- Aquatic Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dominik Buchner
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Gwendoline M David
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Stechlin, Germany
| | - Aman Deep
- Biodiversity, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Annemie Doliwa
- Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Una Hadžiomerović
- Aquatic Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Prati
- Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Anna-Maria Vermiert
- Ruhr University Bochum, Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniela Beisser
- Department of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Micah Dunthorn
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jeremy J Piggott
- Zoology and Trinity Centre for the Environment, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Scott D Tiegs
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Florian Leese
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Arne J Beermann
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Mohapatra SK, Swain A, Roy S, Tripathy B, Mohapatra A, Seth JK. Low diversity, high dominance, and high host prevalence of parasitic isopods of the family Cymothoidae in Chilika lagoon, India: a comparative study between a semi-enclosed ecosystem and its adjoining open region. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:188. [PMID: 38635142 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08208-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Patterns in parasite diversity are shaped by their environmental and ecological settings, and to better understand their interactions with hosts and the corresponding biology, it is crucial to understand these context-dependent patterns. To achieve this, we use cymothoid isopods, an important group of fish parasites, to test a long-standing hypothesis about parasite diversity and prevalence pattern: whether semi-enclosed water bodies allow low diversity and high prevalence of parasitic isopods. Specifically, we compare these patterns between Chilika lagoon (Odisha, India), a semi-enclosed water body, and the adjoining Odisha coast (India). Our finding reveals that the semi-enclosed Chilika lagoon has a considerably lower diversity of parasitic isopods than its adjoining open sea along the Odisha coast. Additionally, the parasitic isopod infection levels in Chilika lagoon are noticeably higher, and isopod assemblage is less even than those in coastal waters along the Odisha coast. Our results support the hypothesised association between enclosed water bodies, parasite diversity, and host prevalence and contribute to an enhanced comprehension of the ecology of parasitic isopods in distinct marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar Mohapatra
- Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur, Odisha, 760007, India
- Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, 761002, India
| | - Anshuman Swain
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Sanmitra Roy
- Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur, Odisha, 760007, India
| | - Basudev Tripathy
- Western Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra, 411044, India
| | - Anil Mohapatra
- Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, 761002, India
| | - Jaya Kishor Seth
- Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur, Odisha, 760007, India.
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Horak IG, Boomker J, Grabovsky VI, Khokhlova IS, Junker K, Sanchez JP, Fernanda López Berrizbeitia M, Krasnov BR. Searching for common patterns in parasite ecology: species and host contributions to beta-diversity in helminths of South African ungulates and fleas of South American rodents. Int J Parasitol 2024:S0020-7519(24)00071-7. [PMID: 38604547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
We searched for common patterns in parasite ecology by investigating species and host contributions to the beta-diversity of infracommunities (=assemblages of parasites harboured by a host individual) in helminths of three species of South African ungulates and fleas of 11 species of South American rodents, assuming that a comparison of patterns in distinctly different parasites and hosts would allow us to judge the generality or, at least, commonness of these patterns. We used data on species' composition and numbers of parasites and asked whether (i) parasite species' attributes (life cycle, transmission mode, and host specificity in helminths; possession of sclerotized combs, microhabitat preference, and host specificity in fleas) or their population structure (mean abundance and/or prevalence) and (ii) host characteristics (sex and age) affect parasite and host species' contributions to parasite beta-diversity (SCBD and HCBD, respectively). We found that parasite species' morphological and ecological attributes were mostly not associated with their SCBD. In contrast, parasite SCBD, in both ungulates and rodents, significantly increased with either parasite mean abundance or prevalence or both. The effect of host characteristics on HCBD was detected in a few hosts only. In general, parasite infracommunities' beta-diversity appeared to be driven by variation in parasite species rather than the uniqueness of the assemblages harboured by individual hosts. We conclude that some ecological patterns (such as the relationships between SCBD and parasite abundance/prevalence) appear to be common and do not differ between different host-parasite associations in different geographic regions, whereas other patterns (the relationships between SCBD and parasite species' attributes) are contingent and depend on parasite and host identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan G Horak
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Joop Boomker
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Vasily I Grabovsky
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Irina S Khokhlova
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Kerstin Junker
- National Collection of Animal Helminths, Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors Programme, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Juliana P Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires- CITNOBA (UNNOBA- UNSAdA- CONICET), Pergamino, Argentina
| | - M Fernanda López Berrizbeitia
- Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina (PCMA) and Instituto de Investigaciones de Biodiversidad Argentina (PIDBA)-CCT CONICET Noa Sur (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e IML, UNT, and Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, San Miguel de Tucumán CP 4000, Argentina
| | - Boris R Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 8499000, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
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Golenser J, Birman I, Gold D. Considering ivermectin for treatment of schistosomiasis. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:180. [PMID: 38592544 PMCID: PMC11003930 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08178-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Because of recent reports of praziquantel resistance in schistosome infections, there have been suggestions to employ ivermectin as a possible alternative, especially as its chemical composition is different from that of praziquantel, so cross-resistance is not expected. In order to ascertain possible damage and elimination of worms, we used ivermectin by oral gavage in infected mice, at a high dose (30.1 mg/kg, bordering toxicity). We also tested the efficacy of the drug at various times postinfection (PI), to check on possible effect on young and mature stages of the parasites. Thus, we treated mice on days 21 and 22 or on days 41 and 42 and even on days 21, 22, 41, and 42 PI. None of the treatment regimens resulted in cure rates or signs of lessened pathology in the mice. We also compared the effect of ivermectin to that of artemisone, an artemisinin derivative which had served us in the past as an effective anti-schistosome drug, and there was a stark difference in the artemisone's efficacy compared to that of ivermectin; while ivermectin was not effective, artemisone eliminated most of the worms, prevented egg production and granulomatous inflammatory response. We assume that the reported lack of activity of ivermectin, in comparison with praziquantel and artemisinins, originates from the difference in their mode of action. In wake of our results, we suggest that ivermectin is not a suitable drug for treatment of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Golenser
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Ida Birman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniel Gold
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Alvarez-Sánchez ME, Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, Pérez-Sánchez G. Modified peptides and organic metabolites of cyanobacterial origin with antiplasmodial properties. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 24:100530. [PMID: 38447332 PMCID: PMC10924210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
As etiological agents of malaria disease, Plasmodium spp. parasites are responsible for one of the most severe global health problems occurring in tropical regions of the world. This work involved compiling marine cyanobacteria metabolites reported in the scientific literature that exhibit antiplasmodial activity. Out of the 111 compounds mined and 106 tested, two showed antiplasmodial activity at very low concentrations, with IC50 at 0.1 and 1.5 nM (peptides: dolastatin 10 and lyngbyabellin A, 1.9% of total tested). Examples of chemical derivatives generated from natural cyanobacterial compounds to enhance antiplasmodial activity and Plasmodium selectivity can be found in successful findings from nostocarboline, eudistomin, and carmaphycin derivatives, while bastimolide derivatives have not yet been found. Overall, 57% of the reviewed compounds are peptides with modified residues producing interesting active moieties, such as α- and β-epoxyketone in camaphycins. The remaining compounds belong to diverse chemical groups such as alkaloids, macrolides, polycyclic compounds, and halogenated compounds. The Dolastatin 10 and lyngbyabellin A, compounds with antiplasmodial high activity, are cytoskeletal disruptors with different protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), San Lorenzo 290, Col. Del Valle, 03100, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Rodrigo Arreola
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Saray Quintero-Fabián
- Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory, Military School of Graduate of Health, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Gilberto Pérez-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Psicoinmunología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Colonia San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14370, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Ribeiro Franco PI, do Carmo Neto JR, Guerra RO, Ferreira da Silva PE, Braga YLL, Nunes Celes MR, de Menezes LB, Miguel MP, Machado JR. Melatonin: A look at protozoal and helminths. Biochimie 2024; 219:96-109. [PMID: 37541568 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin is a pleiotropic neurohormone found in different animal, plant, and microorganism species. It is a product resulting from tryptophan metabolism in the pineal gland and is widely known for its ability to synchronize the circadian rhythm to antitumor functions in different types of cancers. The molecular mechanisms responsible for its immunomodulatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects involve binding to high-affinity G protein-coupled receptors and interactions with intracellular targets that modulate signal transduction pathways. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the therapeutic potential of melatonin in different infectious and parasitic diseases. In this review, the protective and pathophysiological roles of melatonin in fighting protozoan and helminth infections and the possible mechanisms involved against these stressors will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Escola de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Elias Ferreira da Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Yarlla Loyane Lira Braga
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Mara Rúbia Nunes Celes
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Liliana Borges de Menezes
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Marina Pacheco Miguel
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Juliana Reis Machado
- Departamento de Patologia, Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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Higueruelo A, Constenla M, Padrós F, Sánchez-Marín P, Carrassón M, Soler-Membrives A, Dallarés S. Coping with current impacts: The case of Scyliorhinus canicula in the NW Mediterranean Sea and implications for human consumption. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 201:116200. [PMID: 38430679 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is a bottom-dwelling elasmobranch that represents the most discarded catch in terms of biomass in the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean). Potential impacts affecting its population and food safety implications have been assessed in three localities along the Catalan coast. Distinct indicators were integrated, such as biological data, ingested anthropogenic items (plastic and cellulose-like items), parasitological indices, trace metal concentrations and histopathology using liver as target organ. Although high ingestion rates of fibres and levels of some heavy metals, they do not seem negatively affected by any major pathology nor by the current levels of pollutants. Small-scale differences among localities and depths were found and discussed. No zoonotic parasites were found. Encysted larvae of Grillotia adenoplusia and, above all, the levels of Hg found in the musculature, that are well over the European Commission limits, rise concerns regarding human consumption of S. canicula in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Higueruelo
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Constenla
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Padrós
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Sánchez-Marín
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro, s/n, 36390 Vigo, Spain
| | - Maite Carrassón
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Soler-Membrives
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sara Dallarés
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Städele C. The black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis detects CO2 without the Haller's organ. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246874. [PMID: 38372197 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Both male and female ticks have a strong innate drive to find and blood-feed on hosts. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered a critical behavioral activator and attractant for ticks and an essential sensory cue to find hosts. Yet, how CO2 activates and promotes host seeking in ticks is poorly understood. CO2 responses were studied in the black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis, the primary vector for Lyme disease in North America. Adult males and females were exposed to 1%, 2%, 4% or 8% CO2, and changes in walking behavior and foreleg movement were analyzed. CO2 is a potent stimulant for adult I. scapularis, even at lower concentrations (1%). Behavioral reactions depended on the animal's state: walking ticks increased their walking speed, while stationary ticks started to wave their forelegs and began to quest - both behaviors resembling aspects of host seeking. Only in sporadic cases did stationary animals start to walk when exposed to CO2, supporting the hypothesis that CO2 acts as an activator rather than an attractant. Furthermore, I. scapularis did not show a clear concentration preference and was not tuned more robustly to breath-like CO2 concentrations (∼4%) than to the other concentrations tested. Moreover, convincing evidence is provided showing that the foreleg Haller's organ is not necessary for CO2 detection. Even with a disabled or amputated Haller's organ, I. scapularis responded robustly to CO2, signifying that there must be CO2-sensitive structures important for tick host seeking that have not yet been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Städele
- Institute for Neuro- and Sensory Physiology; University of Göttingen Medical Center, Göttingen, Lower Saxony 37073, Germany
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12
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Rojas A, Germitsch N, Oren S, Sazmand A, Deak G. Wildlife parasitology: sample collection and processing, diagnostic constraints, and methodological challenges in terrestrial carnivores. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:127. [PMID: 38481271 PMCID: PMC10938792 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06226-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Wild terrestrial carnivores play a crucial role as reservoir, maintenance, and spillover hosts for a wide parasite variety. They may harbor, shed, and transmit zoonotic parasites and parasites of veterinary importance for domestic hosts. Although wild carnivores are globally distributed and comprise many different species, some living in close proximity to human settlements, only a few studies have investigated parasites of wild terrestrial carnivores using non-specific techniques. Access to samples of wild carnivores may be challenging as some species are protected, and others are secretive, possibly explaining the data paucity. Considering the importance of wild carnivores' health and ecological role, combined with the lack of specific diagnostic methodologies, this review aims to offer an overview of the diagnostic methods for parasite investigation in wild terrestrial carnivores, providing the precise techniques for collection and analysis of fecal, blood, and tissue samples, the environmental impact on said samples, and the limitations researchers currently face in analyzing samples of wild terrestrial carnivores. In addition, this paper offers some crucial information on how different environmental factors affect parasite detection postmortem and how insects can be used to estimate the time of death with a specific highlight on insect larvae. The paper contains a literature review of available procedures and emphasizes the need for diagnostic method standardization in wild terrestrial carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Rojas
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, University of Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Nina Germitsch
- Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 4P3, Canada.
| | - Stephanie Oren
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978, Iran.
| | - Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
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13
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Mustafa S, Alharbi LM, Abdelraheem MZ, Mobashar M, Qamar W, A Al-Doaiss A, Abbas RZ. Role of Silver Nanoparticles for the Control of Anthelmintic Resistance in Small and Large Ruminants. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04132-5. [PMID: 38436800 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04132-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Helminths are considered a significant threat to the livestock industry, as they cause substantial economic losses in small and large ruminant farming. Their morbidity and mortality rates are also increasing day by day as they have zoonotic importance. Anthelmintic drugs have been used for controlling these parasites; unfortunately, due to the development of resistance of these drugs in helminths (parasites), especially in three major classes like benzimidazoles, nicotinic agonists, and macrocyclic lactones, their use is becoming very low. Although new anthelmintics are being developed, the process is time-consuming and costly. As a result, nanoparticles are being explored as an alternative to anthelmintics. Nanoparticles enhance drug effectiveness, drug delivery, and target specificity and have no resistance against parasites. Different types of nanoparticles are used, such as organic (chitosan) and inorganic (gold, silver, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and nickel oxide). One of them, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), has unique properties in various fields, especially parasitology. AgNPs are synthesized from three primary methods: physical, chemical, and biological. Their primary mechanism of action is causing stress through the production of ROS that destroys cells, organs, proteins, and DNA parasites. The present review is about AgNPs, their mode of action, and their role in controlling anthelmintic resistance against small and large ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Mustafa
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Lafi M Alharbi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, 51452, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Z Abdelraheem
- The National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Aswan, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Mobashar
- Department of Animal Nutrition, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Warda Qamar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Amin A Al-Doaiss
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, 61413, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rao Zahid Abbas
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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14
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Massetti L, Schnyder M, Wiethoelter A, Brianti E, McDonagh P, Traub R, Colella V. A Taq-Man-based multiplex quantitative PCR for the simultaneous detection and quantification of Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, and species of respiratory capillarids in canids. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:185-193. [PMID: 38097033 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) and Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi), commonly referred to as canine lungworms, have gained a growing interest worldwide as the result of their geographical expansion. Each of these nematode species differs considerably in its biology and pathogenicity. Despite their impact on dogs' health, these parasites are often underdiagnosed owing to diagnostic challenges. Here, we describe the development and validation of a Taq-Man-based multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the simultaneous detection of the main species of canine lungworms in faeces of infected dogs. Using 10-fold serial dilutions of synthetic gene block fragments containing individual sequence targets of each lungworm species, the analytical sensitivity of the assay ascertained was 1.84 ng/μl for A. vasorum, 3.08 ng/μl for C. vulpis and 0.79 ng/μl for Eucoleus spp. The sensitivity of the assays and their ability to detect mixed species infections were compared with microscopy-based techniques (faecal floatation and Baermann technique) applied to faecal samples submitted for lungworm testing through an accredited diagnostic laboratory at the Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Switzerland, and from community dogs as part of a research project on canine endoparasites in Cambodia. The multiplex qPCR displayed high diagnostic sensitivity (42/46, 91.3%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 79.1-97.1%) and a diagnostic specificity of 100% (45/45, 95% CI: 90.6-100%), and was able to detect 42.9% additional mixed lungworm species infections compared with microscopy-based methods. Kappa statistics showed substantial agreement between the qPCRs and microscopy for mixed infections (κ = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.4-1) and Eucoleus spp. (κ = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45-0.85) and almost perfect agreement for C. vulpis (κ = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63-1) and A. vasorum (κ = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1). This multiplex qPCR enables timely, accurate, and sensitive diagnosis of canine lungworm species in faecal samples and can be used to monitor the geographical distribution and emergence of these parasitic species, globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massetti
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Emanuele Brianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Phillip McDonagh
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Rebecca Traub
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Vito Colella
- Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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15
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Wang T, Dittmar JM, Inskip SA, Cessford C, Mitchell PD. Investigating the association between intestinal parasite infection and cribra orbitalia in the medieval population of Cambridge, UK. Int J Paleopathol 2024; 44:20-26. [PMID: 38039702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cribra orbitalia is believed to be a skeletal indicator of chronic anaemia, scurvy, rickets or related metabolic diseases. It has been suggested that it may be used as a proxy indicator for intestinal parasite infection, as parasites often cause anaemia today. Our aim is to investigate this association in the medieval population of Cambridge, UK. MATERIALS Individuals excavated from the cemeteries of the Augustinian friary and All Saints by the Castle parish church, and aged from 7 to adulthood. METHODS We undertook parasite analysis of the pelvic sediment and control samples of 46 burials with intact orbital roofs. RESULTS Human roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) and/or whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) were identified in the pelvic sediment of 22 individuals, and cribra orbitalia noted in 11 individuals. Barnards test showed no association between parasite infection and cribra orbitalia (p = .882). CONCLUSION We found no association between infection and cribra orbitalia infection in this medieval adult population, calling into question this hypothesis, at least for adults. SIGNIFICANCE High or low cribra orbitalia prevalence in adults should not be used to infer rates of intestinal parasite infection. LIMITATIONS The individuals in the study were over the age of 7, with no younger children. It is possible that only parasites which cause marked anaemia (such as hookworm, schistosomiasis or malaria) may cause cribra orbitalia, while less marked anaemia from roundworm and whipworm may not do so. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Repeating this study in younger children, when most cribra orbitalia appears to form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Wang
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK
| | | | - Sarah A Inskip
- School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Craig Cessford
- Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Piers D Mitchell
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK.
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16
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Akeju AV, Olusi TA, Obi RTE. Intestinal Parasites Associated with American Cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. J Parasit Dis 2024; 48:67-73. [PMID: 38440767 PMCID: PMC10908730 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-024-01645-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) has been implicated as mechanical vector of parasites of humans and animals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of human intestinal parasites associated with the body surface and gut of P. americana. A total of 221 cockroaches which include 104 males and 117 females were collected from household kitchen, toilet area and canteen after which they were brought to laboratory for study. The body surface of the cockroach was washed with 5 ml normal saline solution to remove external parasites on the body surface for examination and later rinsed with 70% alcohol and dried before dissecting. The cockroach was dissected to examine internal parasites. Eleven parasites were recovered and identified, these include Ascaris lumbricoides (51.58%), Strongyloides stercoralis (48.42%) Trichuris trichiura (52.49%), Enterobius vermicularis (37.10%), Taenia spp (14.93%), Toxocara (31.67%), Ancylostoma spp (34.84%), Necator americanus (53.39%), and Diphylidium spp (66.23%) Balantidium coli (66.52%). The parasites were recorded both on the body surface and gut of the cockroach. There is no significant difference (p > 0.05) between parasites infection rate comparing both sexes; though, female cockroach having a higher infection rate (91.45%) than male (81.5%). Cockroach collected from toilets carried more parasites (96.34%) as compared to those from restaurants/canteen (89.71%) and household kitchens (81.69%). All parasites encountered were pathogenic to human and animals. This study has revealed that P. americana can act as mechanical vector by transporting and transmitting these parasites easily to man and animal. Good sanitary practices, reinforcement of worms' eradication programs, and the fight against these insects remain a necessity to contain the menace of parasites burden and cockroach control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adebayo Victor Akeju
- Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Titus Adeniyi Olusi
- Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Regina-Tyra Ekwi Obi
- Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
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17
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Kozela E, Meneghetti P, Regev-Rudzki N, Torrecilhas AC, Porat Z. Subcellular particles for characterization of host-parasite interactions. Microbes Infect 2024:105314. [PMID: 38367661 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases remain a major global health problem for humans. Parasites employ a variety of strategies to invade and survive within their hosts and to manipulate host defense mechanisms, always in the pathogen's favor. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane-bound nanospheres carrying a variety of bioactive compounds, were shown to be released by the parasites during all stages of the infection, enabling growth and expansion within the host and adaptation to frequently changing environmental stressors. In this review, we discuss how the use of existing nanotechnologies and high-resolution imaging tools assisted in revealing the role of EVs during parasitic infections, enabling the quantitation, visualization, and detailed characterization of EVs. We discuss here the cases of malaria, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis as examples of parasitic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Unraveling the EVs' role in the NTD pathogenesis may enormously contribute to their early and reliable diagnostic, effective treatment, and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Kozela
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Paula Meneghetti
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Brazil
| | - Neta Regev-Rudzki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Brazil.
| | - Ziv Porat
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Life Sciences Core Facilities, WIS, Rehovot, Israel.
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18
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Yi TX, Liu W, Leng WF, Wang XC, Luo L. Ankylosing spondylitis coexisting with Clonorchis sinensis infection: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2024; 12:1018-1024. [PMID: 38414593 PMCID: PMC10895637 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i5.1018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. The prevailing theory links AS onset to infections in susceptible individuals. Furthermore, infections may impair the immune responses. Numerous studies have investigated links between AS and various infections-bacterial, viral, fungal, and other microorganism infections. However, limited attention has been given to the association between AS and Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) infection. CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old male with a 10-yr history of AS presented to our hospital with inflammatory lower back pain as the primary manifestation. Ten years ago, the patient had achieved a stable condition after treatment with biological agents. However, he experienced a recurrence of lumbosacral pain with an unexplained cause 10 d before hospital admission. A lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed bone marrow edema in the left sacroiliac joint, and laboratory indicators were elevated. Moreover, the presence of C. sinensis eggs was detected in the stool. The patient was prescribed praziquantel, resulting in the disappearance of C. sinensis eggs in subsequent routine stool tests and relief from lumbosacral pain. A follow-up MRI scan performed after 4 months revealed a reduction in bone marrow edema around the left sacroiliac joint. CONCLUSION C. sinensis infections could potentially trigger the exacerbation of AS. Clinicians should pay attention to investigating the presence of infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Xin Yi
- Department of Rheumatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Dianjiang Chongqing, Chongqing 408300, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Dianjiang Chongqing, Chongqing 408300, China
| | - Wen-Fei Leng
- Department of Rheumatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Dianjiang Chongqing, Chongqing 408300, China
| | - Xiao-Chuan Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Dianjiang Chongqing, Chongqing 408300, China
| | - Liang Luo
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The People's Hospital of Yubei District of Chongqing City, Chongqing 401120, China
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Das M, Albert V, Das S, Dolma KG, Majumdar T, Baruah PJ, Hazarika SC, Apum B, Ramamurthy T. An integrated FoodNet in North East India: fostering one health approach to fortify public health. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:451. [PMID: 38347565 PMCID: PMC10863088 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18007-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food safety is a critical factor in promoting public health and nutrition, especially in developing countries like India, which experience several foodborne disease outbreaks, often with multidrug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, implementing regular surveillance of enteric pathogens in the human-animal-environment interface is necessary to reduce the disease burden in the country. OBJECTIVE To establish a network of laboratories for the identification of major food and waterborne pathogens prevailing in the northeast region of India through integrated surveillance of animal, food, human, and environment and investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the pathogens of public health significance. METHODS The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has identified FoodNet laboratories; based on their geographical location, inclination to undertake the study, preparedness, proficiency, and adherence to quality assurance procedures, through an 8-step process to systematically expand to cover the Northeastern Region (NER) with comprehensive diagnostic capacities for foodborne pathogens and diarrhea outbreak investigations. Network initiated in the NER given the unique food habits of the ethnic population. FINDINGS This surveillance network for foodborne enteric pathogens was established in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Sikkim, and expanded to other four states, i.e., Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, thereby covering the entire NER by including nine medical and three veterinary centers. All these centers are strengthened with periodic training, technical support, funding, capacity building, quality assurance, monitoring, centralized digital data management, and website development. RESULTS The ICMR-FoodNet will generate NER-specific data with close to real-time reporting of foodborne disease and outbreaks, and facilitate the updating of food safety management protocols, policy reforms, and public health outbreak response. During 2020-2023, 13,981 food samples were tested and the detection of enteric pathogens ranged from 3 to 4%. In clinical samples, the detection rate of the pathogens was high in the diarrheal stools (8.9%) when 3,107 samples were tested. Thirteen outbreaks were investigated during the study period. CONCLUSION Foodborne diseases and outbreaks are a neglected subject. Given the frequent outbreaks leading to the deaths of children, it is crucial to generate robust data through well-established surveillance networks so that a strong food safety policy can be developed for better public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuchhanda Das
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India.
| | - Venencia Albert
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Samaresh Das
- Center for Development of Advanced Computing, Kolkata, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Basumoti Apum
- Bankin Pertin General Hospital & Research Institute, Arunachal Pradesh, India
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20
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Menezes SA, Tasca T. Extracellular vesicles in parasitic diseases - from pathogenesis to future diagnostic tools. Microbes Infect 2024:105310. [PMID: 38316376 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases are still a major public health problem especially among individuals of low socioeconomic status in underdeveloped countries. In recent years it has been demonstrated that parasites can release extracellular vesicles that participate in the host-parasite communication, immune evasion, and in governing processes associated with host infection. Extracellular vesicles are membrane-bound structures released into the extracellular space that can carry several types of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites, which directly impact the target cells. Extracellular vesicles have attracted wide attention due to their relevance in host-parasite communication and for their potential value in applications such as in the diagnostic biomarker discovery. This review of the literature aimed to join the current knowledge on the role of extracellular vesicles in host-parasite interaction and summarize its molecular content, providing information for the acquisition of new tools that can be used in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases. These findings shed light to the potential of extracellular vesicle cargo derived from protozoan parasites as novel diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saulo Almeida Menezes
- Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
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21
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Abdullah AM, Merza AS, Meerkhan AA. Cockroaches as carriers of human medically important parasites. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:119. [PMID: 38300322 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08146-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Cockroaches have been identified as mechanical carriers of pathogens capable of infesting humans. The primary objective of this research was to detect and separate medically significant parasites found within the collected cockroaches. A total of 185 cockroaches were captured. In the laboratory, cockroaches underwent a series of steps. Initially, they were washed in a saturated salt solution and rinsed with 70% alcohol, dried, and subsequently dissected to examine endoparasites. In this study, a transport rate of 29.729% was documented, and four types of helminths were identified, which included Ascaris lumbricoides (47.27%), Enterobius vermicularis (30.91%), Trichuris spp. (7.27%), and Hymenolepis nana (14.55%). The parasites were more frequently found on the external surface of cockroaches (38/69.09%), compared to the internal surface (17/30.91%). Cockroaches captured in toilets were found to carry a higher percentage of parasites (31/16.75%) compared to those from kitchens (11/5.94%) and houses (13/7.02%). These findings suggest that cockroaches can serve as carriers for intestinal parasites and potentially act as mechanical agents in the dissemination of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed Saeed Merza
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
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22
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Mørk T, Eira HI, Rødven R, Nymo IH, Blomstrand BM, Guttormsen S, Olsen L, Davidson RK. Necropsy findings, meat control pathology and causes of loss in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway. Acta Vet Scand 2024; 66:1. [PMID: 38178262 PMCID: PMC10768120 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00723-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reindeer herding in Norway is based on traditional Sámi pastoralism with the animals free ranging throughout the year. The animals move over large areas in varying terrain and often in challenging weather conditions. Winter crises, such as difficult grazing conditions caused by icing or large amounts of snow, are survival bottlenecks for reindeer. Calves are especially vulnerable, and many may die from starvation during winter crises. Predation and starvation are the predominant narratives to explain losses, however, carcasses are difficult to find and often little remains after scavenging and decay. Documentation of the causes of death is therefore scarce. RESULTS In this study, we investigated the cause of reindeer mortality in Troms and Finnmark, Nordland and Trøndelag during 2017-2019. Necropsies (n = 125) and organ investigation (n = 13) were performed to document cause of death. Body condition was evaluated using visual fat score and bone marrow fat index. A wide range of causes of death was detected. The diagnoses were categorized into the following main categories: predation (n = 40), emaciation (n = 35), infectious disease (n = 20), trauma (n = 11), feeding related disease (n = 5), neoplasia (n = 4), others (n = 6) and unknown (n = 17). Co-morbidities were seen in a number of diagnoses (n = 16). Reindeer herders are entitled to economic compensation for reindeer killed by endangered predators, but a lack of documentation leads to a gap between the amount of compensation requested and what is awarded. An important finding of our study was that predators, during winter, killed animals in good as well as poor body condition. Emaciation was also shown to be associated with infectious diseases, and not only attributable to winter grazing conditions. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of examining dead reindeer to gain knowledge about why they die on winter pasture. The work presented herein also shows the feasibility and value of increased documentation of reindeer losses during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torill Mørk
- Section of Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Henrik Isaksen Eira
- Norwegian Nature Surveillance, Local Office, Finnmark Estate, 9521, Kautokeino, Norway
| | - Rolf Rødven
- Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, AMAP, FRAM Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingebjørg Helena Nymo
- Section of Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Sandra Guttormsen
- Section of Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Line Olsen
- Section of Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway
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23
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Ramos-Vega A, Dzul-Huchim VM, Villanueva-Lizama LE, Dumonteil E, Rosales-Mendoza S, Bañuelos-Hernández B, Angulo M, Cruz-Chan JV, Monreal-Escalante E, Angulo C. Protective efficacy of the oral vaccine Tc24:Co1 produced in Schizochytrium sp. against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a mouse model. Microb Pathog 2024; 186:106488. [PMID: 38061668 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi parasite - causal Chagas disease agent - affects about 7 million people; no vaccine is available, and current medications have not been entirely effective. Multidisciplinary efforts are necessary for developing clinical vaccine prototypes. Thus, this research study aims to assess the expressed and whole-cell administration protection of the oral vaccine prototype Tc24:Co1 using Schizochytrium sp. microalga. High recombinant protein expression yields (675 μg/L) of algal culture were obtained. Additionally, Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 resulted stable at 4 °C for up to six months and at 25 °C for three months. After receiving four oral doses of the vaccine, the mice showed a significant humoral immune response and a parasitemia reduction associated with a lack of heart inflammatory damage compared with the unvaccinated controls. The Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 vaccine demonstrates to be promising as a prototype for further development showing protective effects against a T. cruzi challenge in a mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Ramos-Vega
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Victor Manuel Dzul-Huchim
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Liliana Estefania Villanueva-Lizama
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Deparment of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UASLP, San Luis Potosí, Mexico; Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, UASLP, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Miriam Angulo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
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24
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Pal A, Joshi M, Thaker M. Too much information? Males convey parasite levels using more signal modalities than females utilise. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246217. [PMID: 38054353 PMCID: PMC10906484 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Elaborate sexual signals are thought to have evolved and be maintained to serve as honest indicators of signaller quality. One measure of quality is health, which can be affected by parasite infection. Cnemaspis mysoriensis is a diurnal gecko that is often infested with ectoparasites in the wild, and males of this species express visual (coloured gular patches) and chemical (femoral gland secretions) traits that receivers could assess during social interactions. In this paper, we tested whether ectoparasites affect individual health, and whether signal quality is an indicator of ectoparasite levels. In wild lizards, we found that ectoparasite level was negatively correlated with body condition in both sexes. Moreover, some characteristics of both visual and chemical traits in males were strongly associated with ectoparasite levels. Specifically, males with higher ectoparasite levels had yellow gular patches with lower brightness and chroma, and chemical secretions with a lower proportion of aromatic compounds. We then determined whether ectoparasite levels in males influence female behaviour. Using sequential choice trials, wherein females were provided with either the visual or the chemical signals of wild-caught males that varied in ectoparasite level, we found that only chemical secretions evoked an elevated female response towards less parasitised males. Simultaneous choice trials in which females were exposed to the chemical secretions from males that varied in parasite level further confirmed a preference for males with lower parasites loads. Overall, we find that although health (body condition) or ectoparasite load can be honestly advertised through multiple modalities, the parasite-mediated female response is exclusively driven by chemical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arka Pal
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Mihir Joshi
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
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25
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Sanguino-Jorquera DG, Poma HR, Rajal VB, Juárez MM, Irazusta VP. [Human parasites in surface water used for recreation in Salta, Argentina]. Rev Argent Microbiol 2023:S0325-7541(23)00085-8. [PMID: 38155042 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Waterborne diseases can have different origins, micro-organisms such as bacteria and parasites being the most important ones. In this study, two recreational aquatic environments were studied in the province of Salta, Argentina. Water samples collected from three different locations, two from a creek and one from the outlet of a thermal complex, were monitored at four time points. Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of each point was conducted, as well as a search for parasites and amebae. Parasites were identified through optical microscopy observations and free-living amebae (FLA) were isolated by spiking in Petri dishes followed by subsequent molecular identification. Water samples from the outlet of the thermal complex showed different physicochemical characteristics from those of the creek. Bacterial indicators of contamination were detected at all points; however, the creek water had a significantly higher concentration of Pseudomonas sp. Sporadically, creek samples exhibited Ascaris spp. eggs, Giardia sp. cysts, and ancylostomid eggs. The presence of FLA was observed in all samples, 15 of which were isolated and identified as Acanthamoeba sp., mostly belonging to the T4 genotype. Parasite surveillance in recreational aquatic environments is an important complement to traditional microbial indicators for assessing water quality. The identified parasites represent a potential health risk for people using these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego G Sanguino-Jorquera
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Hugo R Poma
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Verónica B Rajal
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Salta, Argentina; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapur, Singapur.
| | - María M Juárez
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Verónica P Irazusta
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Salta, Argentina
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26
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Meziti A, Smeti E, Daniilides D, Spatharis S, Tsirtsis G, Kormas KA. Increased contribution of parasites in microbial eukaryotic communities of different Aegean Sea coastal systems. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16655. [PMID: 38144191 PMCID: PMC10740597 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background-Aim Protistan communities have a major contribution to biochemical processes and food webs in coastal ecosystems. However, related studies are scarce and usually limited in specific groups and/or sites. The present study examined the spatial structure of the entire protistan community in seven different gulfs and three different depths in a regional Mediterranean Sea, aiming to define taxa that are important for differences detected in the marine microbial network across the different gulfs studied as well as their trophic interactions. Methods Protistan community structure analysis was based on the diversity of the V2-V3 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified using a 97% sequence identity threshold and were characterized based on their taxonomy, trophic role, abundance and niche specialization level. The differentially abundant, between gulfs, OTUs were considered for all depths and interactions amongst them were calculated, with statistic and network analysis. Results It was shown that Dinophyceae, Bacillariophyta and Syndiniales were the most abundant groups, prevalent in all sites and depths. Gulfs separation was more striking at surface corroborating with changes in environmental factors, while it was less pronounced in higher depths. The study of differentially abundant, between gulfs, OTUs revealed that the strongest biotic interactions in all depths occurred between parasite species (mainly Syndiniales) and other trophic groups. Most of these species were generalists but not abundant highlighting the importance of rare species in protistan community assemblage. Conclusion Overall this study revealed the emergence of parasites as important contributors in protistan network regulation regardless of depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Meziti
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Evangelia Smeti
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources & Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavissos, Greece
| | - Daniil Daniilides
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofie Spatharis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - George Tsirtsis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
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27
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Rodríguez-González J, Gutiérrez-Kobeh L. Apoptosis and its pathways as targets for intracellular pathogens to persist in cells. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:60. [PMID: 38112844 PMCID: PMC10730641 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a finely programmed process of cell death in which cells silently dismantle and actively participate in several operations such as immune response, differentiation, and cell growth. It can be initiated by three main pathways: the extrinsic, the perforin granzyme, and the intrinsic that culminate in the activation of several proteins in charge of tearing down the cell. On the other hand, apoptosis represents an ordeal for pathogens that live inside cells and maintain a strong dependency with them; thus, they have evolved multiple strategies to manipulate host cell apoptosis on their behalf. It has been widely documented that diverse intracellular bacteria, fungi, and parasites can interfere with most steps of the host cell apoptotic machinery to inhibit or induce apoptosis. Indeed, the inhibition of apoptosis is considered a virulence property shared by many intracellular pathogens to ensure productive replication. Some pathogens intervene at an early stage by interfering with the sensing of extracellular signals or transduction pathways. Others sense cellular stress or target the apoptosis regulator proteins of the Bcl-2 family or caspases. In many cases, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to the interference with the host cell apoptotic cascade are still unknown. However, intense research has been conducted to elucidate the strategies employed by intracellular pathogens to modulate host cell death. In this review, we summarize the main routes of activation of apoptosis and present several processes used by different bacteria, fungi, and parasites to modulate the apoptosis of their host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Rodríguez-González
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez,", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Belisario Domínguez, Sección XVI, Delegación Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, México
- Laboratorio de Estudios Epidemiológicos, Clínicos, Diseños Experimentales e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma "Benito Juárez" de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Laila Gutiérrez-Kobeh
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez,", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Belisario Domínguez, Sección XVI, Delegación Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, México.
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28
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Logvinenko AD, Gordeev II, Ekimova IA, Sokolov SG. Helminths of three species of White Sea fishes. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:39. [PMID: 38095734 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08017-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic fauna of the White Sea cod, Gadus morhua marisalbi; the navaga, Eleginus nawaga; and the shorthorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius, in the White Sea was repeatedly studied, but no large-scale parasitological surveys have been made in the recent three decades. To fill this gap, we conducted a survey of the helminths of these three fish species at the White Sea Biological Station (Karelia, Russia) of the Lomonosov Moscow State University in August 2021. The navaga (50 specimens studied) was found to be infected with 13 species of helminths; the White Sea cod (50 specimens), with 12 species; and the shorthorn sculpin (21 specimens), with 13 species. Plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium schistochilus and third-stage juveniles of Pseudoterranova bulbosa were recorded in the White Sea for the first time. The helminth infracommunities of the navaga and the White Sea cod were closer in structure to each other than to those of the shorthorn sculpin. In general, the levels of helminth infection of the White Sea cod, the navaga, and shorthorn sculpin have been consistently high over 85 years of observations in the White Sea, but long-term trends in the abundance of some helminth species were multidirectional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey D Logvinenko
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Ilya I Gordeev
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
- Pacific Salmon Department, Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Okruzhnoy Pr. 19, Moscow, 105187, Russia.
| | - Irina A Ekimova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Sergey G Sokolov
- Center of Parasitology of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of RAS, Leninskiy Pros. 33, Moscow, 119071, Russia
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29
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El-Bahy MM, Kamel NO, Auda HM, Ramadan RM. A smart economic way to control camel parasites and improve camel production in Egypt. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108650. [PMID: 37914150 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of the parasites in camels strategically by administration of the specific drugs (Ivomec 1% SC injection, Amprolium hydrochloride orally, Naganol SC injection and Deltamethrin, poure on) at a specially selected time concerning the transmission season of Nematodes, Coccidia, Trypanosoma, Ticks & mite infection respectively causes relief to the animal from the stress of the parasite, minimizes the number of eggs shedding, and improves its general health conditions. However, the present study designed and applied three selected treatment regimes to 300 parasitically infected and controlled camels in Middle Egypt. The first regime was performed by treating animals two times/year during the peak of infection; the first was in April against internal parasites, and in July against external parasites. The second program was conducted by treating animals three times/year; the first was in March against early-arrived internal parasites, the second was in June against external and internal ones, and the third treatment was in August against the rest of the external parasites. Furthermore, the last suggested regime was applied by applying 4 treatments/year: the first was in February against the internal parasites, the second was in May against the early infection by external parasites as well as the remaining internal parasites, and the third was in July against the external parasite. The fourth treatment was in September to eradicate the remaining internal parasite and keep the animal parasite-free during winter. Treatment was applied to the whole flock; however, the movement of treated and control animals was restricted. The study proved a significant decrease in the incidence and level of parasite burden in animals that received 3 and 4 treatments/year, associated with marked improvement in the mean body score, blood parameters, and rate of pregnancy and its related hormones, as well as enhancement in liver and kidney function parameters. The selection of 3 or 4 treatment regimens will be evaluated concerning their economic cost and total income after another year after each protocol's end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M El-Bahy
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nancy O Kamel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, 6th October University, Egypt
| | - Hend M Auda
- Department of Veterinary Infectious & Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Reem M Ramadan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211, Giza, Egypt.
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30
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Morrill A, Poulin R, Forbes MR. Interrelationships and properties of parasite aggregation measures: a user's guide. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:763-776. [PMID: 37467873 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Aggregation of macroparasites among hosts is nearly universal among parasite-host associations. Researchers testing hypotheses on origins of parasite aggregation and its importance to parasite and host population ecology have used different measures of aggregation that are not necessarily measuring the same thing, potentially clouding our understanding of underlying epidemiological processes. We highlight these differences in meanings by exploring properties and interrelationships of six common measures of parasite aggregation, and provide a "user's guide" to inform researchers' decisions regarding their application. We compared the mathematical expressions of the different measures of aggregation, and ran two series of simulations and analyses. The first simulations tested the effect of random removals of parasites on aggregation levels under different conditions, while the second explored interrelationships between the measures, as well as between other individual parasitological sample measures (i.e. mean abundance, prevalence) and aggregation. Results of simulations and analyses showed that the six measures of aggregation could be separated readily into three groups: the variance-to-mean ratio (VMR) together with mean crowding, patchiness with k of the negative binomial, and Poulin's D with Hoover's index. These three pairs of measures showed differing responses to random parasite removals and differing relations with mean abundance and/or prevalence, highlighting that metrics capture different variation in other sample measures and different attributes of aggregation. We used results of our simulations and analyses, and a literature review, to list the properties, advantages, and disadvantages of each aggregation metric. We provide a comprehensive exploration of what is assessed by each metric, as a guide to metric choice. We implore researchers to provide enough information such that aggregation measures from each group are reported or can be readily calculated. Such steps are needed to allow large-scale analyses of variation in degrees of aggregation within and among parasite-host associations, to uncover epidemiological processes shaping parasite distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Morrill
- Biology Department, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - R Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin North, New Zealand
| | - M R Forbes
- Biology Department, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Taube K, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Gross R, Ozerov M, Vasemägi A. Subtle transcriptomic response of Eurasian perch ( Perca fluviatilis) associated with Triaenophorus nodulosus plerocercoid infection. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:146-154. [PMID: 37869060 PMCID: PMC10585624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Determining the physiological effects of parasites and characterizing genes involved in host responses to infections are essential to improving our understanding of host-parasite interactions and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. This task, however, is complicated by high diversity and complex life histories of many parasite species. The use of transcriptomics in the context of wild-caught specimens can help ameliorate this by providing both qualitative and quantitative information on gene expression patterns in response to parasites in specific host organs and tissues. Here, we evaluated the physiological impact of the widespread parasite, the pike tapeworm (Triaenophorus nodulosus), on its second intermediate host, the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). We used an RNAseq approach to analyse gene expression in the liver, the target organ of T. nodulosus plerocercoids, and spleen which is one of the main immune organs in teleost fishes. We compared perch collected from multiple lakes consisting of individuals with (n = 8) and without (n = 6) T. nodulosus plerocercoids in the liver. Results revealed a small number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs, adjusted p-value ≤0.05) in both spleen (n = 22) and liver (n = 10). DEGs in spleen consisted of mostly upregulated immune related genes (e.g., JUN, SIK1, THSB1), while those in the liver were often linked to metabolic functions (e.g., FABP1, CADM4, CDAB). However, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed lack of functional enrichment among DEGs. This study demonstrates that Eurasian perch displays a subtle response at a gene expression level to T. nodulosus plerocercoid infection. Given that plerocercoids are low-metabolic activity transmission stages, our results suggest that moderate T. nodulosus plerocercoid infection most likely does not provoke an extensive host immune response and have relatively low physiological costs for the host. Our findings illustrate that not all conspicuous infections have severe effects on host gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Taube
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kristina Noreikiene
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Siim Kahar
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Riho Gross
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mikhail Ozerov
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Anti Vasemägi
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sötvattenslaboratoriet, Stångholmsvägen 2, 17893 Drottningholm, Sweden
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Schantz AV, Dörge DD, Peter N, Klimpel S. The hidden threat: Exploring the parasite burden and feeding habits of invasive raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) in central Europe. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:155-166. [PMID: 37869059 PMCID: PMC10585636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Originally from Asia, the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides is an invasive alien species in Europe, listed since 2019 on the List of invasive alien species of Union concern. The raccoon dog is considered to have negative impact on native biodiversity, as well as a crucial role in hosting and transmitting diverse parasites and pathogens of human and veterinary importance. In the present study, stomach content analyses and parasitological examinations were performed on 73 raccoon dogs from Germany. In addition, fecal samples were analyzed. The results of the study confirm the assumption that the examined raccoon dogs were infested with a various ecto- and endoparasite fauna. A total of 9 ecto- and 11 endoparasites were detected, with 6 of the endoparasites having human pathogenic potential. Trichodectes canis (P = 53.42%), Toxocara canis (P = 50.68%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (P = 68.49%) were the most abundant parasite species. The stomach contents consisted of approximately one-third vegetable and two-thirds animal components, composed of various species of amphibians, fish, insects, mammals and birds. Among them were specially protected or endangered species such as the grass frog Rana temporaria. The study shows that the raccoon dog exerts predation pressure on native species due to its omnivorous diet and, as a carrier of various parasites, poses a potential risk of infection to wild, domestic and farm animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V. Schantz
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt/Main, D-60439, Germany
| | - Dorian D. Dörge
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt/Main, D-60439, Germany
| | - Norbert Peter
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt/Main, D-60439, Germany
| | - Sven Klimpel
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt/Main, D-60439, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt/Main, D-60325, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
- Branch Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392, Giessen, Germany
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Lignereux L, Tong WH, Tan S, Vyas A, O'handley R. Presence of IgG antibodies is not a reliable marker of Toxoplasma gondii infection in feral mice. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:75-79. [PMID: 37727638 PMCID: PMC10506062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii uses mice as a vector to reach its definitive host, the cat, where it can accomplish its sexual reproduction and produce oocysts, which will contaminate the environment. In this study, we have captured 103 feral house mice (Mus musculus) on Kangaroo Island, Australia. We have measured the level of exposure to T.gondii serologically with the Modified Agglutination Test and conjointly with a T.gondii B1 gene PCR. We have included stringent quality control steps in the molecular analysis to reduce the risk of false positivity and false negativity. Our results indicated a low seroprevalence of 0.97%, 95%CI [-0.36; 0.58] associated with the detection of T.gondii genetic material in 51.46%, 95%CI [41.93, 60.88] of mice brains. Neither sex nor mice body weight had an effect on the PCR outcome. We postulate that both the transmission route, horizontal or vertical, and natural selection processes could lead to this discordance which has been observed elsewhere in wild mice. The question of the biological mechanisms allowing the chronic infection of wild mice in the absence of a measurable humoral immune response remains. Our findings indicate that serological studies should not be used to measure the level of exposure to T.gondii in feral house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Lignereux
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Wen Han Tong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Sijie Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Ajai Vyas
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Ryan O'handley
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
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Ben Youssef-Dridi S, Antar R, Gey D, Justine JL, Gargouri L. Morphological and molecular studies of the life-cycle stages of the monorchiid Monorchis parvus (Looss, 1902) (Digenea) from the Southern Mediterranean coast (Tunisia). Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2819-2833. [PMID: 37749315 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07967-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The elucidation of life-cycles of digeneans, with their successive larval stages, is facilitated by the use of molecular markers. Samples of sporocysts containing cercariae and metacercariae belonging to Monorchis Monticelli, 1893 were collected from naturally infected bivalves, Cerastoderma glaucum (Bruguière, 1789), and adult forms of Monorchis spp. were collected from sparid fishes of the genus Diplodus. All specimens were collected in the Gulf of Gabès, southern Tunisia. The identities of the examined molluscs and fishes were determined via molecular barcoding of their COI gene. Sequences of COI and ITS1 genes were also obtained for both larval and adult stages of collected parasite specimens. Genetic sequence data generated for the collected larval specimens only differed minimally from the sequence data of adults identified as Monorchis parvus; we attribute the difference to intraspecific variation. The morpho-anatomical study showed that the different stages of M. parvus collected from the Tunisian coasts had the same morphology as those reported in European waters with a lag in maturity and lower measurements. The species is recorded and molecularly characterised for the first time off the Tunisian coasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumaya Ben Youssef-Dridi
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, University of Tunis El Manar, LR18ES06, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Rym Antar
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, University of Tunis El Manar, LR18ES06, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Delphine Gey
- Service de Systématique Moléculaire, UMS 2700 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, CP 26, 43 Rue Cuvier, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Lou Justine
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), MNHN, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 51, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lamia Gargouri
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, University of Tunis El Manar, LR18ES06, Tunis, Tunisia
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Doliwa A, Grabner D, Sures B, Dunthorn M. Comparing Microsporidia-targeting primers for environmental DNA sequencing. Parasite 2023; 30:52. [PMID: 38015008 PMCID: PMC10683580 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabarcoding is a powerful tool to detect classical, and well-known "long-branch" Microsporidia in environmental samples. Several primer pairs were developed to target these unique microbial parasites, the majority of which remain undetected when using general metabarcoding primers. Most of these Microsporidia-targeting primer pairs amplify fragments of different length of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene. However, we lack a broad comparison of the efficacy of those primers. Here, we conducted in silico PCRs with three short-read (which amplify a few-hundred base pairs) and two long-read (which amplify over a thousand base pairs) metabarcoding primer pairs on a variety of publicly available Microsporidia sensu lato SSU-rRNA gene sequences to test which primers capture most of the Microsporidia diversity. Our results indicate that the primer pairs do result in slight differences in inferred richness. Furthermore, some of the reverse primers are also able to bind to microsporidian subtaxa beyond the classical Microsporidia, which include the metchnikovellidan Amphiamblys spp., the chytridiopsid Chytridiopsis typographi and the "short-branch" microsporidian Mitosporidium daphniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemie Doliwa
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen Universitätsstrasse 5 45141 Essen Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen Universitätsstrasse 5 45141 Essen Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen Universitätsstrasse 5 45141 Essen Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen 45141 Essen Germany
| | - Micah Dunthorn
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo 0562 Oslo Norway
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Cyr AP, Drew KA, Corsetti S, Seitz AC, Sutton TM, López JA, Wooller MJ, O'Hara T. Ecotoxicology of mercury concentrations in arctic lamprey (Lethenteron camtschaticum). Environ Res 2023; 237:116955. [PMID: 37643685 PMCID: PMC10838160 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Arctic lamprey (Lethenteron camtschaticum) is an important dietary resource for rural and indigenous communities in parts of Alaska, with some commercial use. As with many fish species harvested for human consumption, there are concerns regarding mercury concentrations ([Hg]) in Arctic lamprey that may impact human health. To date, information regarding the life cycle and diet of Arctic lamprey is scarce, with no published studies examining [Hg] in Arctic lamprey tissues. Our goals were to investigate the feeding ecology of Arctic lamprey from the Bering Sea, determine how diet and potential dietary shifts might influence [Hg] in muscle, and determine if current [Hg] may pose a human health risk. The mean total [Hg] in Arctic lamprey muscle (n = 98) was 19 ng/g wet-weight. Log transformed total [Hg] were not associated with any measured biological variables including length, mass, δ13C values, or δ15N values. A stable isotope mixing model estimated that capelin (Mallotus villosus) accounted for 40.0 ± 4.0% of the Arctic lamprey diet, while Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) accounted for 37.8 ± 3.1% and 22.2 ± 3.5% respectively. Finally, diet percentage compositions shifted based on size class (i.e., medium versus large). These results indicated that feeding location, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification are not important drivers of [Hg] in Arctic lamprey and current [Hg] do not pose a human health risk. Taken together, this research further expands our knowledge of Arctic lamprey trophic ecology in the eastern Bering Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Cyr
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 901 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7750, USA.
| | - Katie A Drew
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA
| | - Sierra Corsetti
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, PO Box 756100, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6100, USA
| | - Andrew C Seitz
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA
| | - Trent M Sutton
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA
| | - J Andrés López
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960, USA
| | - Matthew J Wooller
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, 2150 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, 306 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA; Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA
| | - Todd O'Hara
- Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, 306 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, USA; Bilingual Laboratory of Toxicology, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Grecco A, Macchiaroli N, Pérez MG, Casulli A, Cucher MA, Rosenzvit MC. microRNA silencing in a whole worm cestode model provides insight into miR-71 function. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:699-710. [PMID: 37699506 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the class Cestoda include zoonotic species such as Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp. that cause morbidity and mortality in endemic areas, mainly affecting pastoral and rural communities in low income countries but also upper middle income countries. Cestodes show remarkable developmental plasticity, implying tight regulation of gene expression throughout their complex life cycles. Despite the recent availability of genomic data for cestodes, little progress was made on postgenomic functional studies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key components of gene regulatory systems that guide diverse developmental processes in multicellular organisms. miR-71 is a highly expressed miRNA in cestodes, which is absent in vertebrates and targets essential parasite genes, representing a potential key player in understanding the role of miRNAs in cestodes biology. Here we used transfection with antisense oligonucleotides to perform whole worm miRNA knockdown in tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides vogae (syn. Mesocestoides corti), a laboratory model of cestodes. We believe this is the first report of miRNA knockdown at the organism level in these parasites. Our results showed that M. vogae miR-71 is involved in the control of strobilation in vitro and in the establishment of murine infection. In addition, we identified miR-71 targets in M. vogae, several of them being de-repressed upon miR-71 knockdown. This study provides new knowledge on gene expression regulation in cestodes and suggests that miRNAs could be evaluated as new selective therapeutic targets for treating Neglected Tropical Diseases prioritised by the World Health Organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Grecco
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Bioinformática de Patógenos, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Gastón Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriano Casulli
- WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; European Reference Laboratory for Parasites. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Minias P. The effects of urban life on animal immunity: Adaptations and constraints. Sci Total Environ 2023; 895:165085. [PMID: 37379938 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Land transformation, including urbanization, is a dominant form of anthropogenic change to the global environment at the dawn of the Anthropocene epoch. More and more species are brought into direct contact with humans, being either required to develop broad-scale adaptations to urban environment or filtered out from urbanized areas. While behavioural or physiological adaptations are at the forefront of urban biology research, there is accumulating evidence for divergent pathogen pressure across urbanization gradients, requiring adjustments in host immune function. At the same time, host immunity may be constrained by unfavourable components of an urban environment, such as poor-quality food resources, disturbance, or pollution. Here, I reviewed existing evidence for adaptations and constrains in the immune system of urban animals, focusing on the recent implementation of metabarcoding, genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic approaches in urban biology research. I show that spatial variation in pathogen pressure across urban and non-urban landscapes is highly complex and may be context-dependent, but there is solid evidence for pathogen-driven immunostimulation in urban-dwelling animals. I also show that genes coding for molecules directly involved in interactions with pathogens are the prime candidates for immunogenetic adaptations to urban life. Evidence emerging from landscape genomics and transcriptomics show that immune adaptations to urban life may have a polygenic nature, but immune traits may not be among the key biological functions experiencing broad-scale microevolutionary changes in response to urbanization. Finally, I provided recommendations for future research, including i) a better integration of different 'omic' approaches to obtain a more complete picture of immune adaptations to urban life in non-model animal taxa, ii) quantification of fitness landscapes for immune phenotypes and genotypes across urbanization gradient, and iii) much broader taxonomic coverage (including invertebrates) necessary to draw more robust conclusions on how general (or taxa-specific) are immune responses of animals to urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland.
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Kim SW, Jang BK. Toxocara canis and Fasciola hepatica Co-Infection Leading to Hepatic Abscess: A Case Report. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e323. [PMID: 37821089 PMCID: PMC10562180 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by ingesting eggs from soil contaminated with Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, commonly found in feces of infected dogs and cats, leading to a range of clinical symptoms including fever, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal manifestations. Fascioliasis is also a zoonotic disease caused by liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, which can be contracted through consumption of contaminated water or aquatic plants, leading to various clinical features. Here, we report a case of a 39-year-old woman diagnosed with a liver abscess caused by co-infection of T. canis and F. hepatica, as confirmed by serological tests. Although the existence of a pet dog and an experience of eating raw water dropwort are potential clues for diagnosis, it cannot be determined as the source of infection because the source of infection has not been clearly identified. After administrating albendazole and triclabendazole sequentially, the patient showed improvement in blood test and imaging findings. Clinicians should be aware of parasitic co-infection and take appropriate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Wan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Byoung Kuk Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
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Mahami T, Odai BT, Nettey SN, Asamoah A, Adjei I, Offei B, Mireku A, Ayeh EA, Ocloo FC. Microbial food safety of lettuce produced under irrigated wastewater from Onyasia River in Ghana. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19273. [PMID: 37662740 PMCID: PMC10474412 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fresh produce continues to be the main source of foodborne illness outbreaks, particularly in developing countries where water stress results in the use of surface wastewater all year round for irrigation of vegetables. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the microbial quality of lettuce irrigated with wastewater from Onyasia river. Lettuce and soil were sampled from selected vegetable farms on the Eastern gate of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission land alongside surface wastewater from the Onyasia river, which is used as the main source for irrigation. Samples were analyzed for aerobic mesophilic plate counts, total coliforms count, fecal coliforms count, Salmonella counts and intestinal parasites using standard methods. Surface wastewater was found to be contaminated with mean fecal coliform counts of log 3.50 cfu/100 mL. Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumonia were also isolated from the wastewater samples. No intestinal parasite egg was detected in wastewater samples. While fecal coliforms and Salmonella spp were not detected, mean aerobic mesophilic plate counts (log 4.82 cfu/g) and total coliforms count (log 3.50 cfu/g) were recorded in the lettuce samples. Enterobacter asburiae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella variicola and Citrobacter freundii were isolated from lettuce. Infective larvae of helminths were observed on lettuce samples at a density of 36/g-648/g with a mean of 342/g. Soil samples recorded a mean aerobic mesophilic plate counts of log 6.14 cfu/g, total coliforms count of log 4.90 cfu/g while fecal coliforms and Salmonella spp were not detected (<1 cfu/g) Soil samples yielded a mean infective larval count of 1941.5 larvae/g and a Strongyle count of 12 eggs/g. Even though less than 1 cfu/g of Salmonella spp were found, the study found lettuce to be contaminated with other foodborne bacteria pathogens, opportunistic bacteria pathogens, eggs and infective larvae of intestinal parasites of health importance. As a consequence, the microbial food safety risk associated with wastewater irrigated vegetables was observed to be high with possible public health implications. It is recommended that wastewater from the Onyasia River should be treated before use for irrigation of lettuce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahiru Mahami
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bernard T. Odai
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel N.A. Nettey
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Anita Asamoah
- National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Isaac Adjei
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Offei
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abigail Mireku
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ernestina A. Ayeh
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
| | - Fidelis C.K. Ocloo
- Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), GAEC, Accra, Ghana
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Mesafint E, Dejene H, Maru M, Tarekegn ZS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia. J Parasit Dis 2023; 47:451-464. [PMID: 37520199 PMCID: PMC10382411 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed this review to determine the weighted prevalence of equids parasitic infections in Ethiopia. Article searches on parasites of equids were conducted using PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Sciences, Scopus, AJOLs and Research Gate. A random effects model was used to estimate the weighted prevalence and to study heterogeneity. The primary searches generated, 3082 potential studies, of which 66 reports met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. There were 32 reports involving two or more equids species, eighteen on donkeys, and sixteen on horses. Moreover, fifty of the reports mentioned helminth infections in equids, thirteen on protozoans, and three on ectoparasites. The estimated weighted prevalence of parasitic infections in equids was 58.3% (95% CI 50.8-65.4%, I2 = 99%). Helminths were the most prevalent parasites in equids, accounting for 77.1% (95% CI 71.4%, 82%, I2 = 98.5%), followed by ectoparasites at 35.4% (95% CI 33.4-37.52%, I2 = 88.2%) and haemoparasites (protozoans) at 10.84% (95% CI 6.6%, 17.3%, I2 = 98.1%). Furthermore, with a prevalence of 82.3% (95% CI 75.9-87.3%, I2 = 97.4%), donkeys were the most affected equids with helminth parasites. From the reports, we found forty-three species of helminth parasites affecting equids, including thirty-four nematode species (Strongylus, Cyathostomum, Coronocyclus, Cylicocyclus, Cylicostephanus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagodontus, Strongyloides, Triodontophorus, Gyalocephalus, Poteriostomum, Dictyocaulus, Oxyuris, Habronema, Draschia, Parascaris, Setaria, and Probstmayria species), three trematodes (two Fasciola and one Gastrodiscus species), three cestodes (two Anoplocephala and one Anoplocephaloides species) and three botfly larvae (one Rhinoestrus and two Gasterophilus species). Trypanosoma species (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei, T. equiperdum, and T. evansi), piroplasms (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), and Eimeria species have also been reported to affect equids. Ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, A. gemma, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, R. evertisi evertisi, R. pulchellus, R. muhsame, R. sanguineus, Hyalomma rufipes, and Hy. truncatum) and lice (Bovicola equi and Haematopinus asini) were the ectoparasites recorded to affect equids. The risk of publication bias across studies was likely to be high due to differences in publication year and diagnostic techniques. In conclusion, parasitic infections of equids are common in Ethiopia and are caused by a variety of parasite species, putting the performance and well-being of these packing animals at risk. Therefore, more research is needed to identify infection risk factors and raise awareness of the consequences of parasitism in order to provide strategies to mitigate the problems in equids. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edom Mesafint
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Haileyesus Dejene
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Moges Maru
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Zewdu Seyoum Tarekegn
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Beltrame MO, Moviglia GS, De Tommaso D, Quintana S. Gastrointestinal parasites of domestic sheep from Patagonia throughout historical times: A paleoparasitological approach. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 44:100915. [PMID: 37652634 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Sheep husbandry in Patagonia, Argentina, started at the beginning of the 20th century from European settlers. Sanitary management is minimal, which has serious implications for the sheep health. Sheep can be infested by diverse parasites, with well over 150 species of internal and external parasites reported worldwide. Gastrointestinal parasitism is one of the most common and important infections in sheep concerning the health status, and is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality, which generates considerable production losses. The present work is the first paleoparasitological study of sheep coprolites from Patagonia throughout historical times. Fifty-seven coprolites from the 'Cueva Peligro' archaeological site (Patagonia, Argentina) were analyzed using the Lutz spontaneous sedimentation technique and the modified Faust flotation technique. Ancient DNA (aDNA) study was carried out in order to identify the zoological origin of coprolites. The results obtained from Cytb analysis confirmed the identity of the host as Ovis aries (domestic sheep). A total of 39 coprolites examined were positive for parasites by at least one of the studied methods. Thirty eight samples were positive by spontaneous sedimentation and 10 samples were positive by the modified Faust technique. The parasitic fauna found was Trichuris sp. (Trichinellida: Trichuridae), Nematodirus sp., Nematodirus spathiger (Strongylida, Trichostrongyloidea), two unidentified Strongylida-type egg morphotypes, Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Digenea) and coccidia oocysts of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). The modified Faust technique provided satisfactory results in terms of sensitivity for the detection of Eimeria spp. The use of this methodology as a routine procedure enables the processing of ancient samples, in order to increase recoveries. These results show the importance of integrating different diagnostic approaches in order to optimize parasitic findings. The recorded parasite diversity appears to have not changed over the last 120 years. The study displayed the presence of different parasitic species which suggests potential exposure to parasitic diseases through the historical times, both for sheep and for other domestic and wild mammals from Patagonia. Also, suggests the presence of fasciolosis, a zoonotic disease that implies a potential risk for Patagonian populations in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Ornela Beltrame
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Gloria Sofía Moviglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Daniela De Tommaso
- Grupo de Investigación en Gestión, Desarrollo Territorial y Ambiente (GesDTA), Facultad Regional Chubut, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (FRCh-UTN)
| | - Silvina Quintana
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
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Liu C, Zhang S, Xue J, Zhang H, Yin J. Evaluation of PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis as an antiparasitic target for metformin based on phylogeny analysis and molecular docking. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 255:111580. [PMID: 37473813 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin (Met), the first-line drug used in the treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, is effective against a variety of parasites. However, the molecular target of Met at clinical dose against various parasites remains unclear. Recently, low-dose Met (clinical dose) has been reported to directly bind PEN2 (presenilin enhancer protein 2) and initiate the lysosomal glucose-sensing pathway for AMPK activation via ATP6AP1 (V-type proton ATPase subunit S1), rather than perturbing AMP/ATP levels. METHODS To explore the possibility of PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis as a drug target of Met for the treatment of parasitic diseases, we identified and characterized orthologs of PEN2 and ATP6AP1 genes in parasites, by constructing phylogenetic trees, analyzing protein sequences and predicting interactions between Met and parasite PEN2. RESULTS The results showed that PEN2 and ATP6AP1 genes are only found together in a few of parasite species in the cestoda and nematoda groups. Indicated by molecular simulation, Met might function by interacting with PEN2 on V37/W38/E5 (Trichinella spiralis) with similar binding energy, and on F35/S39 (Caenorhabditis elegans) with higher binding energy, comparing to human PEN2. Hence, these results indicated that only the T. spiralis PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis has the potential to be the direct target of low-concentration Met. Together with contribution of host cells including immune cells in vivo, T. spiralis PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis might play roles in reducing parasite load at low-concentration Met. However, the mechanisms of low-concentration Met on other parasitic infections might be mainly achieved by regulating host cells, rather than directly targeting PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed the potential mechanisms by which Met treats various parasitic diseases, and shed new light on the development of antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congshan Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shangrui Zhang
- Henan Medical College, No. 8 Shuanghu Avenue, Longhu Town, Xinzheng, Zhengzhou City 451191, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian Xue
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haobing Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jianhai Yin
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China.
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Leutenegger CM, Lozoya CE, Tereski J, Andrews J, Mitchell KD, Meeks C, Willcox JL, Freeman G, Richmond HL, Savard C, Evason MD. Comparative study of a broad qPCR panel and centrifugal flotation for detection of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from dogs and cats in the United States. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:288. [PMID: 37587483 PMCID: PMC10433665 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05904-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For decades, zinc sulfate centrifugal fecal flotation microscopy (ZCF) has been the mainstay technique for gastrointestinal (GI) parasite screening at veterinary clinics and laboratories. Elsewhere, PCR has replaced microscopy because of generally increased sensitivity and detection capabilities; however, until recently it has been unavailable commercially. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to compare the performance of real-time PCR (qPCR) and ZCF for fecal parasite screening. Secondary aims included further characterization of markers for hookworm treatment resistance and Giardia spp. assemblages with zoonotic potential and qPCR optimization. METHODS A convenience sampling of 931 canine/feline fecal samples submitted to a veterinary reference laboratory for routine ZCF from the Northeast US (11/2022) was subsequently evaluated by a broad qPCR panel following retention release. Detection frequency and agreement (kappa statistics) were evaluated between ZCF and qPCR for seven GI parasites [hookworm/(Ancylostoma spp.), roundworm/(Toxocara spp.), whipworm/(Trichuris spp.), Giardia duodenalis, Cystoisospora spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Tritrichomonas blagburni] and detections per sample. Total detection frequencies were compared using a paired t-test; positive sample and co-infection frequencies were compared using Pearson's chi-squared test (p ≤ 0.05 significant) and qPCR frequency for hookworm benzimidazole (BZ) resistance (F167Y) and zoonotic Giardia spp. assemblage markers calculated. Confirmatory testing, characterization, and qPCR optimization were carried out with Sanger sequencing. RESULTS qPCR detected a significantly higher overall parasite frequency (n = 679) compared to ZCF (n = 437) [p = < 0.0001, t = 14.38, degrees-of-freedom (df) = 930] and 2.6 × the co-infections [qPCR (n = 172) vs. ZCF (n = 66)], which was also significant (p = < 0.0001, X2 = 279.49; df = 1). While overall agreement of parasite detection was substantial [kappa = 0.74; (0.69-0.78], ZCF-undetected parasites reduced agreement for individual and co-infected samples. qPCR detected markers for Ancylostoma caninum BZ resistance (n = 5, 16.1%) and Giardia with zoonotic potential (n = 22, 9.1%) as well as two parasites undetected by ZCF (T. gondii/T. blagburni). Sanger sequencing detected novel roundworm species, and qPCR optimization provided detection beyond ZCF. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the statistically significant detection frequency advantage offered by qPCR compared to routine ZCF for both single and co-infections. While overall agreement was excellent, this rapid, commercially available qPCR panel offers benefits beyond ZCF with detection of markers for Giardia assemblages with zoonotic potential and hookworm (A. caninum) BZ resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jan Andrews
- Antech Diagnostics, Inc, Fountain Valley, CA, USA
| | | | - Cathy Meeks
- Antech Diagnostics, Inc, Fountain Valley, CA, USA
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Yousefi M, Akbari M, Hadipour M, Dehkordi AB, Farahbakhsh Z, Darani HY. Parasites as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:8027-8038. [PMID: 36949175 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04694-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Parasites and cancers have some common antigens. Much scientific evidence in the human population, animal models, and in vitro experiments exhibit that parasites have significant anti-cancer effects. The larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzy, Plasmodium's, and Trichinella spiralis are among the parasites that have been subjects of anti-cancer research in the last decades. Anti-tumor effects of parasites may be due to the direct impact of the parasites per se or indirectly due to the immune response raised against common antigens between malignant cells and parasites. This manuscript reviews the anti-cancer effects of parasites and possible mechanisms of these effects. Options for using parasites or their antigens for cancer treatment in the future have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Yousefi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadesmail Akbari
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mahboubeh Hadipour
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Azar Balouti Dehkordi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zohreh Farahbakhsh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Yousofi Darani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Fonti N, Parisi F, Mancianti F, Freer G, Poli A. Cancerogenic parasites in veterinary medicine: a narrative literature review. Infect Agent Cancer 2023; 18:45. [PMID: 37496079 PMCID: PMC10373346 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-023-00522-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasite infection is one of the many environmental factors that can significantly contribute to carcinogenesis and is already known to be associated with a variety of malignancies in both human and veterinary medicine. However, the actual number of cancerogenic parasites and their relationship to tumor development is far from being fully understood, especially in veterinary medicine. Thus, the aim of this review is to investigate parasite-related cancers in domestic and wild animals and their burden in veterinary oncology. Spontaneous neoplasia with ascertained or putative parasite etiology in domestic and wild animals will be reviewed, and the multifarious mechanisms of protozoan and metazoan cancer induction will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Fonti
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Francesca Parisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, Via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Poli
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
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Guiton R, Drevet JR. Viruses, bacteria and parasites: infection of the male genital tract and fertility. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:19. [PMID: 37468865 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-023-00193-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility affects one couple out of six worldwide. Male infertilty can result from congenital or acquired factors, of which pathogens that reach the genital tract through sexual contact or blood dissemination. The impact of major viral, bacterial and parasitic infections on the male genital tract and fertility has been summarized. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A systematic review of articles published in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases was conducted. It turns out that viruses, as well as bacteria and parasites are major inducers of male genital tract infections and ensuing infertility through damage to the organs and subsequent loss of function and/or through direct damage to the sperm cells. Moreover, not only male infertility results from such infections but these can also be transmitted to women and even to the offspring, thus highlighting the need to efficiently detect, treat and prevent them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Guiton
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS UMR6293, GReD Institute, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - Joël R Drevet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS UMR6293, GReD Institute, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Azami M, Amini Rarani S, Kiani F. Treatment of Urticaria caused by severe cryptosporidiosis in a 17-month-old child - a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:461. [PMID: 37430189 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08446-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan that causes gastrointestinal symptoms in humans and animals. In immunocompromised patients and children under 5 years of age, the infection is severe and can be life-threatening due to severe diarrhea. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of urticaria associated with Cryptosporidium in a 17-month-old female Iranian child. The patient had moderate diarrhea (> 3 loose, watery stools but not more than 10 diarrhea stools in a day), weight loss, and acute urticarial (rash clears completely within 6 weeks). Since the child's father worked in livestock farming, the parasite may have been transferred from the cow or calve to the house and the child. Several Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in the modified acid-fast staining of the child's stool sample. The patient was successfully treated with nitazoxanide (100 mg twice daily) and became negative for parasites three days after treatment and one week after discharge from the hospital. The child was observed to produce < 3 loose stools in the previous 24 h after 1-week post-treatment and after 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION A number of parasites are associated with urticaria, but to our knowledge, there is no information on Cryptosporidium-induced urticaria. Therefore, our result may be evidence for the role of this parasite in the development of urticaria if other causes such as food allergies, autoimmune diseases and etc. don't role in urticaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Azami
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
- Basir Laboratory Research and Development Center, Basir Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Isfahan, Iran.
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Microbiology, Hojjatieh Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Hojjatieh Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Saeid Amini Rarani
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Department of Operating Room, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kiani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Microbiology, Hojjatieh Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Hojjatieh Hospital, Isfahan, Iran
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Salazar-Silva CH, Oyarzún-Ruiz P, Rodríguez R, Torres-Fuentes LG, Cicchino A, Mironov S, Muñoz-Leal S, Moreno L. External and gastrointestinal parasites of the black-faced ibis Theristicus melanopis (Pelecaniformes: Threskiornithidae) in the Los Ríos region, southern Chile. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 42:100893. [PMID: 37321796 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The black-faced ibis, Theristicus melanopis, is considered a useful bird species for agricultural activity because it preys upon various invertebrate and vertebrate pests. Although it is a common species in Chile, limited information is available regarding its parasites. The main objective of this study was to recover the diversity of ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths in black-faced ibises living in the communes of Valdivia and Panguipulli, Los Ríos region. A total of 74 specimens were received for examination from the Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre at the Universidad Austral de Chile (CEREFAS-UACh), Valdivia, in 2011-2015. Black-faced ibises were externally inspected for ectoparasites by direct examining of the plumage, and necropsies were performed to examine digestive and respiratory organs in search of endoparasites. For each taxon, prevalence, mean intensity, mean abundance, and range of parasites per bird were estimated. Five species of ectoparasites and six species of helminths were identified. A total of 298 lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) belonging to four species were collected: Ardeicola melanopis (13.51%), Colpocephalum trispinum (20.27%), Ibidoecus fissisignatus (4.05%), and Plegadiphilus mamillatus (9.46%). In addition, one feather mite species, Diodochaetus melanopis (Acari: Pterolichoidea) (17.56%), was isolated. In 48 black-faced ibis (64.86%), a total of 1229 gastrointestinal helminths were found: two nematodes, Porrocaecum heteropterum (55.41%) and Baruscapillaria obsignata (24.32%); one tapeworm Eugonodaeum nasuta (20.27%); two digeneans, Echinoparyphium recurvatum (1.35%) and Strigea bulbosa (6.76%); and the acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris sp. (1.35%). The findings of the following parasites present new host-parasite associations: P. mamillatus, D. melanopis, B. obsignata, E. recurvatum, S. bulbosa, and Sphaerirostris sp. Additionally, the louse P. mamillatus, feather mite D. melanopis, platyhelminths E. nasuta, E. recurvatum and S. bulbosa, and the acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris sp. are new records for the fauna of Chile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo H Salazar-Silva
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
| | - Ricardo Rodríguez
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Luis Gonzalo Torres-Fuentes
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Armando Cicchino
- Laboratorio de Artrópodos, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - Sergey Mironov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Quay 1, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Sebastian Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
| | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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Wangchuk P, Yeshi K, Loukas A. Metabolomics and lipidomics studies of parasitic helminths: molecular diversity and identification levels achieved by using different characterisation tools. Metabolomics 2023; 19:63. [PMID: 37356029 PMCID: PMC10290966 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-023-02019-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Helminths are parasitic worms that infect millions of people worldwide and secrete a variety of excretory-secretory products (ESPs), including proteins, peptides, and small molecules. Despite this, there is currently no comprehensive review article on cataloging small molecules from helminths, particularly focusing on the different classes of metabolites (polar and lipid molecules) identified from the ESP and somatic tissue extracts of helminths that were studied in isolation from their hosts. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the metabolomics and lipidomics studies of parasitic helminths using all available analytical platforms. METHOD To achieve this objective, we conducted a meta-analysis of the identification and characterization tools, metabolomics approaches, metabolomics standard initiative (MSI) levels, software, and databases commonly applied in helminth metabolomics studies published until November 2021. RESULT This review analyzed 29 studies reporting the metabolomic assessment of ESPs and somatic tissue extracts of 17 helminth species grown under ex vivo/in vitro culture conditions. Of these 29 studies, 19 achieved the highest level of metabolite identification (MSI level-1), while the remaining studies reported MSI level-2 identification. Only 155 small molecule metabolites, including polar and lipids, were identified using MSI level-1 characterization protocols from various helminth species. Despite the significant advances made possible by the 'omics' technology, standardized software and helminth-specific metabolomics databases remain significant challenges in this field. Overall, this review highlights the potential for future studies to better understand the diverse range of small molecules that helminths produce and leverage their unique metabolomic features to develop novel treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phurpa Wangchuk
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878 Australia
| | - Karma Yeshi
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878 Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878 Australia
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