-
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Apr 2020Urticaria remains a major problem in terms of aetiology, investigation, and management, and although parasitic diseases are considered potential causes, the absence of a...
Urticaria remains a major problem in terms of aetiology, investigation, and management, and although parasitic diseases are considered potential causes, the absence of a consistent link between parasitic infections and skin allergy symptoms leads to the need for a deeper study of parameters that support this association. The objectives of this study were to analyse a possible relationship between parasitism by Ascarididae (Toxocara canis and Anisakis simplex) and the clinical expression of urticaria and to identify possible parasitic molecular markers for improving the diagnosis of unknown urticaria aetiology. The prevalence of Toxocara and Anisakis infestations was evaluated by measuring the levels of specific IgG (sIgG) and IgE (sIgE) antibodies against crude extracts and isolated components from whole larvae of Anisakis simplex (Ani s 1, Ani s 3 and Ani s 7) and Toxocara canis (TES-120, TES-70, TES-32 and TES-26) using immunologic and molecular diagnostic methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in a group of 400 individuals. The study group consisted of 95 patients diagnosed with urticaria (55 with chronic urticaria and 40 with acute urticaria). A control group consisted of 305 subjects without urticaria (182 diagnosed with respiratory allergy and 123 without allergy). Statistically significant differences were demonstrated in the seroprevalence of specific IgG and IgE antibodies between the urticaria patients and the healthy general population when isolated ascarid antigens were evaluated. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against Ani s 1, IgE antibodies against TES-120 and IgE antibodies against TES-70 were significantly different between the control individuals (healthy general population) and patients with urticaria. Moreover, the urticaria patient group demonstrated a higher seroprevalence of antibodies (sIgE and sIgG) against Anisakis simplex larva whole extract than the control group but just with statistically diferences when sIgE was evaluated. The presence of IgE and/or IgG antibodies against Ani s 3 (tropomyosin) can help to discriminate between patients with and without urticaria. Both ascarids seem to be associated with urticaria, although in our region, Anisakis seems to have greater involvement than Toxocara in this relationship. Molecular diagnostics can be used to associate urticaria with parasite infestations. Tropomyosin and Ani s 1 were the most relevant markers to demonstrate the association between urticaria and the most relevant Ascarididae parasites in our region.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Allergens; Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; Ascaridoidea; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Larva; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Skin; Toxocara canis; Urticaria; Young Adult
PubMed: 32243436
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008177 -
Acta Tropica Feb 2023Toxocara canis larvae invade various tissues of different vertebrate species without developing into adults in paratenic host. The long-term survival of the larvae... (Review)
Review
Toxocara canis larvae invade various tissues of different vertebrate species without developing into adults in paratenic host. The long-term survival of the larvae despite exposure to the well-armed immune response is a notable achievement. The larvae modulate the immune response to help the survival of both the host and the larvae. They skew the immune response to type 2/regulatory phenotype. The outstanding ability of the larvae to modulate the host immune response and to evade the immune arms is attributed to the secretion of Toxocara excretory-secretory products (TESPs). TESPs are complex mixture of differing molecules. The present review deals with the molecular composition of the TESPs, their interaction with the host molecules, their effect on the innate immune response, the receptor recognition, the downstream signals the adaptive immunity and the repair of tissues. This review also addresses the role of TESPs molecules in the immune evasion strategy and the potential effect of the induced immunomodulation in some diseases. Identification of parasite components that influence the nematode-host interactions could enhance understanding the molecular basis of nematode pathogenicity. Furthermore, the identification of helminths molecules with immunomodulatory potential could be used in immunotherapies for some diseases.
Topics: Animals; Toxocara canis; Toxocariasis; Immune Evasion; Toxocara; Immunity, Innate; Larva; Immunotherapy; Antigens, Helminth
PubMed: 36502886
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106784 -
Veterinary Parasitology, Regional... Jan 2019Gastrointestinal parasites of chickens are prevalent in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. This study was conducted with backyard chickens in Ambo, Holeta and,...
Gastrointestinal parasites of chickens are prevalent in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. This study was conducted with backyard chickens in Ambo, Holeta and, Dire Inchini in the West Shoa zone with the objectives of estimating the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections, identifying the species present and determining associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 252 chickens purchased from local markets. Chickens were killed humanely and gastrointestinal tracts were examined for adult helminths. Identification of the helminths was performed using morphology and microscopy. The overall prevalence of helminth parasites in chickens was 92.1% (232/252) [95% confidence interval (CI): 88.0% - 95.1%]. 80.2% (204/252) [95% CI: 75.3% - 86.9%] and 77.8% (196/252) [95% CI: 72.1% - 82.8%] of chickens were infected with diverse nematode and cestode species, respectively. Parasitological examination revealed the presence of three nematode and five cestode species. Ascaridia galli (69.8%) and Heterakis gallinarum (13.5%) were the dominant nematode species and Railletina tetragona (54.0%) and Railletina echinobothrida (46.8%) were the most prevalent species of cestodes identified. A significant difference (p < .05) was observed between the prevalence of nematode parasites and sex, age, and origin of the chicken. Similarly, sex and origin of the chickens were significantly different with the prevalence of cestode infections. Higher prevalence was observed in male versus female chickens, in young versus adult chickens and in chickens from Holeta and Direinchin compared to Ambo. In contrast, weight, health status, diarrhea status, and age (for cestodes) were not significantly associated with nematode and cestode infection. In conclusion, the present study detected a high prevalence of diverse types of gastrointestinal helminths in backyard chickens, which could result in poor health and reduce productivity. Therefore, the present study strongly suggests appropriate and strategic control of helminthiasis to improve the health and output of backyard chickens in the study areas.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Ascaridida; Cestoda; Chickens; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract; Helminthiasis, Animal; Helminths; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Poultry Diseases; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30929942
DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100265 -
Annals of Parasitology 2021Toxocara spp. (T. canis and T. cati in particular) are the major etiological nematodes that have contributed to visceral larval migrans (VLM). So to show the ability of...
Toxocara spp. (T. canis and T. cati in particular) are the major etiological nematodes that have contributed to visceral larval migrans (VLM). So to show the ability of T. cati to produce such migration in the rats as experimental model and detection through histopathological observations to detect larval migratory patterns. Adult females T. cati were collected from naturally infected feral cats. Eight rats, Rattus norvegicus had acted as a model for experimental infection, each receiving an infectious dose of about 1000 infective T. cati eggs, while 2 rats served as non-infected control group. Two infected rats were sacrificed and examined at 7, 14, 21, and 28 day post infection (dpi) and tissue samples were taken for digestioning order to recover migrated larvae and for histopathological examination. In vitro embryonation of T. cati eggs was successfully carried out, although the percentage of embryonation was 10%, prepared inoculums were also infective to rats. Larvae recovered from the lungs at 7 and 14 dpi and were also present at 21, and 28 dpi. The larvae of T. cati were present in the intestines at 14, and 21 dpi. There were no larvae or less than one larva per gram found in other studied tissues. Histopathological changes in different organs were observed. Generally speaking, a multi-tissue response can be defined as the histopathological response of T. cati larval migration. The migratory larvae of T. cati can cause severe histopathological alterations in various tissues and organs of infected animals, within the current study shows that the lungs are a favorable site of migration for these larvae. T. cati is a zoonotic parasite that is underestimated.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Control Groups; Female; Larva; Rats; Toxocara; Toxocara canis
PubMed: 34597499
DOI: 10.17420/ap6702.338 -
Parasitology International Feb 2023This study determines the occurrence and molecular identification of nematodes from blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier (Perciformes: Scombridae), an edible fish...
This study determines the occurrence and molecular identification of nematodes from blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier (Perciformes: Scombridae), an edible fish from Australian waters. A total of 150 fish were sourced from the New South Wales and Victorian coasts. Nematodes were initially classified morphologically as 10 morphotypes belonging to the families Anisakidae (Anisakis morphotypes I and II, Contracaecum morphotype II, Terranova morphotypes I and II), Raphidascarididae (Hysterothylacium morphotypes IV, VI, VIII, and XIV), and Capillariidae (Capillaria sp.), followed by molecular identification through sequencing of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2) region. Anisakis morphotype I was confirmed as A. pegreffii Campana-Rouget & Biocca, 1955 and A. berlandi Mattiucci, Cipriani, Webb, Paoletti, Marcer, Bellisario, Gibson & Nascetti, 2014. Anisakis morphotype II and Contracaecum morphotype II were confirmed as A. physeteris Baylis, 1923 and C. ogmorhini Johnston & Mawson, 1941, respectively. Terranova morphotypes I and II were identified as Pulchrascaris australis Shamsi, Barton & Zhu, 2020 and Euterranova pectinolabiata n. comb. (Shamsi, Barton & Zhu, 2019) Moravec & Justine, 2020, respectively. The specific identification of Hysterothylacium morphotypes IV, VI, and VIII was not possible as no comparable adult Hysterothylacium species sequences were available in GenBank, with the exception of morphotype XIV which was confirmed as H. persicum Shamsi, Ghadam, Suthar, Mousavi, Soltani & Mirzargar, 2016. Seven nematode morphotypes were identified for the first time in Australian blue mackerel. The outcomes of the study provide a basis for future research into the community structure, life cycles, and distribution of nematode species in Australian mackerel and to analyse and clarify their importance for public health.
Topics: Animals; Fish Diseases; Larva; Australia; Ascaridoidea; Perciformes; Anisakis; Fishes; Anisakiasis
PubMed: 36084860
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102664 -
Parasites & Vectors Apr 2022The genus Cissophyllus (Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae) is a rare group of nematodes parasitic in turtles and lizards. To date, only four species have been reported in...
Morphology, genetic characterization and molecular phylogeny of the poorly known nematode parasite Cissophyllus leytensis Tubangui & Villaamil, 1933 (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from the Philippine sailfin lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus (Eschscholtz, 1829) (Reptilia: Squamata).
BACKGROUND
The genus Cissophyllus (Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae) is a rare group of nematodes parasitic in turtles and lizards. To date, only four species have been reported in Asia and North America. However, most of them are inadequately described. The species Cissophyllus leytensis has never been reported since it was originally described by Tubangui and Villaamil in 1933 from the Philippine sailfin lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus (Eschscholtz, 1829) (Reptilia: Squamata). Furthermore, the systematic status of Cissophyllus/Cissophyllinae in the family Kathlaniidae of the superfamily Cosmocercoidea remains under debate.
METHODS
The detailed morphology of C. leytensis was studied using light microscopy (LM) and, for the first time, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), based on newly collected specimens from the type host H. pustulatus. Six different genetic markers, including nuclear sequences [small ribosomal subunit (18S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large ribosomal subunit (28S)], plus mitochondrial genes [cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) and 12S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene] of C. leytensis were sequenced. Additionally, in order to test the validity of the subfamily Cissophyllinae and clarify the phylogenetic relationships of Cissophyllus and the other genera in the family Kathlaniidae, phylogenetic analyses based on 18S + 28S and ITS sequence data were performed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses, respectively.
RESULTS
Our observations using LM and SEM revealed some previously unreported morphological features, necessitating the redescription of this poorly known species. The presence of remarkable morphological variation in the isthmus and the position of excretory pore among different individuals was found. Molecular analysis showed no intraspecific nucleotide divergence detected in the 18S, ITS, 28S, cox2 and 12S regions among different individuals of C. leytensis, but a low level of intraspecific genetic variation was found in the cox1 (0.52%). Our phylogenetic results showed the representatives of the Cosmocercoidea divided into four large clades (Cosmocerca + Aplectana + Cosmocercoides representing the family Cosmocercidae, Cruzia representing the subfamily Cruzinae of Kathlaniidae, Falcaustra + Cissophyllus + Megalobatrachonema representing the subfamily Kathlaniinae of Kathlaniidae, and Orientatractis + Rondonia representing the family Atractidae). The genus Cissophyllus clustered together with the genus Megalobatrachonema in both the ML and BI trees using ITS sequence data, but displayed a sister relationship to the genus Falcaustra in the ML tree and to the genera Falcaustra + Megalobatrachonema in the BI tree using 18S + 28S sequence data.
CONCLUSIONS
Molecular phylogenetic results further confirmed that the family Kathlaniidae is not a monophyletic group. The subfamily Cruziinae should be moved from the hitherto-defined family Kathlaniidae and elevated as a separate family Cruziidae. The present phylogenetic results also negated the validity of the subfamily Cissophyllinae and supported the genus Cissophyllus assigned in the subfamily Kathlaniinae. Molecular analysis indicated that the morphological variation in the isthmus and position of excretory pore among different individuals should be considered as intraspecific variation. Moreover, some characters important for the specific diagnosis of C. leytensis are reported for the first time: the number of acuminate denticles (lamellae) on each lip, the chitinized pharynx with three flabellate pharyngeal plates, the presence of single medioventral precloacal papilla and the detailed morphology of caudal papillae. The present study is only the second record of C. leytensis.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida; Bayes Theorem; Lizards; Nematoda; Parasites; Philippines; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35365181
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05224-8 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Sep 2017
Topics: Animals; Ascaris; DNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 28645162
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix301 -
BMC Veterinary Research Nov 2022The epidemiology of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in food animals, associated products, and their zoonotic potential are poorly understood. A cross sectional study...
BACKGROUND
The epidemiology of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in food animals, associated products, and their zoonotic potential are poorly understood. A cross sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. larvae from free-range broiler chickens in traditional farms using conventional techniques and molecular method. Eight-hundred tissue samples including liver, gizzard, lungs and heart were collected from 200 chickens belonging to different regions of Zanjan Province, Iran and were processed by conventional and molecular methods.
RESULTS
Out of 800 chicken tissues, 49 samples (6.1%) were positive for nematode larvae. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify species-specific of Toxocara larvae. The findings showed that 10.5% (21 out of 200) chickens were infected with Toxocara species, so that 57.1% (12 out of 21) of the samples were positive for Toxocara canis and 42.9% (9 out of 21) of the samples were positive for Toxocara cati.
CONCLUSION
Considering the significant contamination/infection of free-range broiler chickens with Toxocara larvae, the consumption of chicken meat and viscera, especially liver and gizzards, can play an important role in the transmission of infection to humans. Prevention and control measures focused on regular deworming of dogs and cats, increasing public awareness of Toxocara infection are recommended.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cats; Dogs; Toxocara; Chickens; Larva; Farms; Cat Diseases; Iran; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dog Diseases; Toxocara canis
PubMed: 36411453
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03516-w -
Fish & Shellfish Immunology Apr 2019Parasites from the family Anisakidae are capable of infecting a range of marine fish species worldwide. Coilia nasus, which usually feeds and overwinters in coastal...
Parasites from the family Anisakidae are capable of infecting a range of marine fish species worldwide. Coilia nasus, which usually feeds and overwinters in coastal waters and spawns in freshwater, is highly susceptible to infection by Anisakidae. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopes to show that C. nasus infected by Anisakidae exhibited damage and fibrosis of the liver tissue. To better understand host immune reaction and metabolic changes to Anisakidae infection, we used a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic method to characterize the key genes and metabolites, and the signaling pathway regulation of C. nasus infected by Anisakidae. We generated 62,604 unigenes from liver tissue and identified 391 compounds from serum. Of these, Anisakidae infection resulted in significant up-regulation of 545 genes and 28 metabolites, and significant down-regulation of 416 genes and 37 metabolites. Seventy-four of the 961 differentially expressed genes were linked to immune response, and 1, 2-Diacylglycerol, an important immune-related metabolite, was significantly up-regulated after infection. Our results show activation of antigen processing and presentation, initiation of the T cell receptor signaling pathway, disruption of the TCA cycle, and changes to the amino acid and Glycerolipid metabolisms, which indicate perturbations to the host immune system and metabolism following infection. This is the first study describing the immune responses and metabolic changes in C. nasus to Anisakidae infection, and thus improves our understanding of the interaction mechanisms between C. nasus and Anisakidae. Our findings will be useful for future research on the population ecology of C. nasus.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida Infections; Ascaridoidea; Fish Diseases; Fish Proteins; Fishes; Metabolome; Transcriptome
PubMed: 30611778
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.12.077 -
Parasitology Feb 2024Species of (Nematoda: Ascarididae) are of great veterinary and zoonotic significance, owing to cause Baylisascariosis or Baylisascariasis in wildlife, captive animals...
Morphology and ASAP analysis of the important zoonotic nematode parasite (Stefahski and Zarnowski, 1951), with molecular phylogenetic relationships of species (Nematoda: Ascaridida).
Species of (Nematoda: Ascarididae) are of great veterinary and zoonotic significance, owing to cause Baylisascariosis or Baylisascariasis in wildlife, captive animals and humans. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the current 10 species remain unclear. Moreover, our current knowledge of the detailed morphology and morphometrics of the important zoonotic species is still insufficient. The taxonomical status of and remains under debate. In the present study, the detailed morphology of was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy based on newly collected specimens from the raccoon (Linnaeus) in China. The results of the ASAP analysis and Bayesian inference (BI) using the 28S, ITS, 1 and 2 genetic markers did not support that and represent two distinct species. Integrative morphological and molecular assessment challenged the validity of , and suggested that seems to represent a synonym of Molecular phylogenetic results indicated that the species of were grouped into 4 clades according to their host specificity. The present study provided new insights into the taxonomic status of and preliminarily clarified the phylogenetic relationships of species.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ascaridida; Phylogeny; Parasites; Bayes Theorem; Ascaridoidea; Raccoons
PubMed: 38087962
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023001312