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Parasites & Vectors Jul 2023Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) is a nematode with a worldwide geographical distribution. It causes a disease called lung capillariosis by affecting the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) is a nematode with a worldwide geographical distribution. It causes a disease called lung capillariosis by affecting the respiratory tract of wild and domestic animals, and has also occasionally been described in humans. Despite steady increases in knowledge of the morphology of this neglected parasite, many aspects are still poorly understood. Epidemiological data regarding, for example, geographic distribution, range of hosts, clinical relevance and the actual zoonotic potential of this nematode are scarce and incomplete.
METHODS
This article is a systematic review based on the screening of three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct) to identify eligible studies published from 1973 to the end of 2022.
RESULTS
From a total of 606 studies describing the occurrence of E. aerophilus, 141 articles from 38 countries worldwide were included in this meta-analysis, all of which presented results obtained mainly with flotation and necropsy. Due to the occurrence of E. aerophilus in many different species and different matrices (lungs and faeces), we decided to conduct the meta-analysis separately for each species with a given matrix. This systematic review confirmed the status of the Red fox as the main reservoir and main transmitter of E. aerophilus (average prevalence of 43% in faeces and 49% in lungs) and provided evidence of a higher prevalence of E. aerophilus in wild animals in comparison to domestic animals, such as dogs (3% in faeces) and cats (2% in faeces and 8% in lungs). Previous studies have investigated many host-related factors (age, sex, environmental/living conditions) in relation to the prevalence of E. aerophilus, but they show wide variations and no simple relationship has been demonstrates. Furthermore, mixed infections with other pulmonary nematodes, such as Crenosoma vulpis and/or Angiostrongylus vasorum, are reported very frequently, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review focused on identifying data gaps and promoting future research directions in this area. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that evaluates and summarizes existing knowledge on the occurrence and prevalence of E. aerophilus in wild and domestic animals originating from different geographical locations worldwide.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Cats; Humans; Nematode Infections; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Lung; Metastrongyloidea; Foxes
PubMed: 37475031
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05830-0 -
One Health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dec 2023Neural angiostrongyliasis (NA) is a parasitic disease caused by (rat lungworm). This study presents a case of NA in a captive Bolivian squirrel monkey from a zoo in...
Neural angiostrongyliasis (NA) is a parasitic disease caused by (rat lungworm). This study presents a case of NA in a captive Bolivian squirrel monkey from a zoo in western Sydney, Australia. The objective was to identify the 1 haplotype responsible for the infection and compare its mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to known Australian mtDNA. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to assess the risk of infection, focusing on the resident rat population in the zoo. Methods involved trapping rats and collecting rat faeces for detection, speciation, and 1 haplotype confirmation. Various techniques were employed, including necropsy, morphological examination, and molecular methods such as ITS-2 qPCR, 1 sequencing, and ITS-2 metabarcoding. Cluster analysis of rat faeces distribution and detection utilised an equal sampling effort (ESE) approach. Gastropods were collected throughout the study for surveillance using a hypersensitive qPCR assay. Results revealed significant clustering of rat faeces near exhibits with fresh food provision and absence of predators. -positive faeces were uniformly distributed across the zoo property. Mitochondrial DNA analysis confirmed the presence of the Ac13 haplotype of in the monkey. Morphology, ITS-2 metabarcoding and partial 1 sequencing detected only , with the Ac13 1 haplotype predominating. A high prevalence of infection (64%, 9/14) was found in brown rats, with quantification of larvae indicating high shedding rates. Co-infections with both Ac13 and local SYD.1 1 haplotypes were observed. Only three gastropods (all of which were -negative) were found in the survey. To minimise the risk of exposure for susceptible species, targeted rodent control was implemented in areas with higher exposure risk. A potential strategy (which requires further exploration) to consider for future zoo design was suggested. This study provides insights into the epidemiology and genetic diversity of in Australia, emphasising the importance of control measures to prevent future outbreaks.
PubMed: 38024275
DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100628 -
Zoonoses and Public Health Nov 2023Angiostrongylus malaysiensis is a potential zoonotic parasite, which reported to co-occur with A. cantonensis in human cerebrospinal fluid. It is a heteroxenous nematode...
A cross-sectional study of Angiostrongylus malaysiensis in rats and gastropod hosts from recreational parks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Detection, risk factors and pathology.
Angiostrongylus malaysiensis is a potential zoonotic parasite, which reported to co-occur with A. cantonensis in human cerebrospinal fluid. It is a heteroxenous nematode that primarily develops through the early larval stages in gastropods and attains sexual maturity within rats. This study was conducted to determine the host species responsible for the reservoir of A. malaysiensis and investigate the risk factor for transmission among the hosts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sampling was conducted in six recreational parks. The rats were trapped alive using steel wire traps with bait, while the gastropods were collected by active searching. The rats were euthanized and dissected to collect any adult worms observed. The molecular detection of A. malaysiensis was performed by PCR on gastropod tissue samples. Biotic and landscape factors were recorded for risk factor analysis. In total, 82 rats and 330 gastropods were collected throughout the study. Overall, 3.64% of gastropods and 32.9% of rats were infected with A. malaysiensis. Rattus tiomanicus (Malayan wood rat) and Parmarion martensi (Yellow-shelled semi-slug) were found as important hosts for A. malaysiensis. Host species, sampling site and macrohabitat type are risk factors associated with the prevalence of A. malaysiensis infection in rats. For gastropods, host species and sampling site are risk factors that correlate with the parasite detection. In total, 128 adult A. malaysiensis were recovered from the infected rats. The mean intensity of infection with adult A. malaysiensis was 4.65 for Rattus rattus complex and 4.90 for R. tiomanicus. Adult worms were found in the pulmonary artery or right ventricle, while eggs and first-stage larvae were found in capillaries of the caudal lung lobe. Infected lungs showed extravasated red blood cells in the alveolar spaces. The pulmonary arteries in the infected lung lobe were thickened. Kepong Metropolitan Park is the hotspot area for A. malaysiensis in Kuala Lumpur. These results provide essential information for public health officials to develop targeted interventions to reduce the transmission of A. malaysiensis in urban areas, particularly in recreational parks.
Topics: Rats; Humans; Animals; Angiostrongylus; Gastropoda; Cross-Sectional Studies; Malaysia; Parks, Recreational; Ovum; Parasites; Larva; Risk Factors; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Strongylida Infections; Rodent Diseases
PubMed: 37403513
DOI: 10.1111/zph.13072 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2024Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasite that mainly infects the heart and pulmonary arteries of rats and causes human eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in...
Inflammatory and immunopathological differences in brains of permissive and non-permissive hosts with Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection can be identified using 18F/FDG/PET-imaging.
BACKGROUND
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a parasite that mainly infects the heart and pulmonary arteries of rats and causes human eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in certain geographical areas. Current diagnostic methods include detection of the parasite in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and eosinophilic immune examination after lumbar puncture, which may be risky and produce false-positive results. 18F- Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a Positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, has been used to assess different pathological or inflammatory changes in the brains of patients. In this study, we hypothesized that A. cantonensis infection-induced inflammatory and immunomodulatory factors of eosinophils result in localized pathological changes in the brains of non-permissive hosts, which could be analyzed using in vivo 18F-FDG PET imaging.
METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS
Non-permissive host ICR mice and permissive host SD rats were infected with A. cantonensis, and the effects of the resulting inflammation on 18F-FDG uptake were characterized using PET imaging. We also quantitatively measured the distributed uptake values of different brain regions to build an evaluated imaging model of localized neuropathological damage caused by eosinophilic inflammation. Our results showed that the uptake of 18F-FDG increased in the cerebellum, brainstem, and limbic system of mice at three weeks post-infection, whereas the uptake in the rat brain was not significant. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting revealed that Iba-1, a microglia-specific marker, significantly increased in the hippocampus and its surrounding area in mice after three weeks of infection, and then became pronounced after four weeks of infection; while YM-1, an eosinophilic chemotactic factor, in the hippocampus and midbrain, increased significantly from two weeks post-infection, sharply escalated after three weeks of infection, and peaked after four weeks of infection. Cytometric bead array (CBA) analysis revealed that the expression of TNF in the serum of mice increased concomitantly with the prolongation of infection duration. Furthermore, IFN-γ and IL-4 in rat serum were significantly higher than in mouse serum at two weeks post-infection, indicating significantly different immune responses in the brains of rats and mice. We suggest that 18F-FDG uptake in the host brain may be attributed to the accumulation of large numbers of immune cells, especially the metabolic burst of activated eosinophils, which are attracted to and induced by activated microglia in the brain.
CONCLUSIONS
An in vivo 18F-FDG/PET imaging model can be used to evaluate live neuroinflammatory pathological changes in the brains of A. cantonensis-infected mice and rats.
Topics: Animals; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Strongylida Infections; Brain; Mice; Positron-Emission Tomography; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Eosinophils; Inflammation; Male; Disease Models, Animal; Lectins; Female; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
PubMed: 38805557
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012188 -
Current Research in Parasitology &... 2024Rats, being synanthropic, are hosts to agents of zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to human and domestic animal health. The nematode parasite , commonly known as the...
Rats, being synanthropic, are hosts to agents of zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to human and domestic animal health. The nematode parasite , commonly known as the rat lungworm, is no exception; it can cause potentially fatal neural disease in humans, dogs and other species. The distribution of (haplotypes SYD.1 and Ac13) and its close relative, is not well understood in Australia. We investigated the prevalence of in rats in Sydney, Australia, primarily faecal qPCR, and identified the species and haplotypes using partial 1 sequencing. We found a moderate prevalence of infection (29%; 95% CI: 16.1-46.6%) in black () and brown () rats around public parks and residential areas. This study demonstrates that Sydney's urban rat population is a reservoir for . Modelling infection status as a function of rat species, sex, tibia length (as a proxy for age), and health index (a measure of weight by size) revealed that older rats are statistically more likely to be infected ( = 5.331, = 0.021). We observed a dominant presence of the SYD.1 haplotype, for which the implications are not yet known. No was detected, leading us to suspect it may have a more restricted host- and geographical range. Overall, this study illustrates the presence and potential risk of infection in Sydney. Public education regarding transmission routes and preventative measures is crucial to safeguard human and animal health.
PubMed: 38845789
DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100179 -
International Journal For Parasitology Mar 2024In recent years, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Eucoleus aerophilus (syn. Capillaria aerophila) and Eucoleus boehmi (syn. Capillaria boehmi), commonly...
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.
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.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Angiostrongylus; Dog Diseases; Metastrongyloidea; Feces; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 38097033
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.12.001 -
Parasitology Sep 2023The rat lungworm is a metastrongyloid nematode that causes neurological disorders in its accidental hosts, including humans. This invasive pathogen is native to...
The rat lungworm is a metastrongyloid nematode that causes neurological disorders in its accidental hosts, including humans. This invasive pathogen is native to Southeast Asia and adjacent regions and is gradually expanding its distribution to tropical and subtropical areas with new foci discovered near temperate regions. The parasite has a complex life cycle with a range of gastropods serving as intermediate hosts. A broad spectrum of poikilotherm vertebrates and invertebrates can serve as paratenic hosts. Since it has already been demonstrated that other, non-zoonotic metastrongyloids can survive in their intermediate hosts during the winter, the aim of our study was to evaluate the survival of third-stage larvae in experimentally infected slugs () kept at 4.5–7°C for 60 days. Third-stage larvae of survived the period of low temperature and remained capable of infecting definitive hosts (laboratory rats) afterwards, even though their numbers dropped significantly. These results suggest that further spread to higher latitudes or altitudes is possible in areas with sufficient abundance of definitive hosts, since low winter temperatures are not necessarily an obstacle to the spread of the parasite.
Topics: Humans; Rats; Animals; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Snails; Larva; Life Cycle Stages; Seasons; Strongylida Infections; Angiostrongylus
PubMed: 37614202
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023000781 -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Dec 2023Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease and a leading cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by rat lungworm . This parasite infects a wide range of...
Angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease and a leading cause of human eosinophilic meningoencephalitis caused by rat lungworm . This parasite infects a wide range of animal hosts, including snails and rats, which plays a significant role in zoonotic transmission. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of infection in freshwater snails and definitive rat hosts in the agricultural area in Ampayon, Butuan City, Philippines. A total of 54 rat samples and 719 snail individuals were collected in June and July 2020. An overall 2.36% prevalence rate of snail infection was recorded, consisting of and , with a prevalence rate of 4.05% and 1.38%, respectively. Results revealed an overall prevalence of 38.9% in rat infection. (48.48%) showed a higher infection than (23.80%). Higher infection rates were found in rice field environments than residential houses, with 44.12% and 30% prevalence rates, respectively. Moreover, male rats showed higher infection rates (50%) than female rats (26.92%). Among age classes, adult rats had significantly higher infection rates (48.57%) than juvenile rats (21.05%). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between infection intensity to the body length (r = 0.603; = 0.001) and body weight (r = 0.715; = 0.000) of rats. The study exemplifies the critical role of intermediate and definitive hosts for angiostrongyliasis. Infected freshwater snails and rats in rice fields make these agricultural areas a venue for emergence. Integrated actions, health education campaigns, surveillance, hygiene, and good farming practices will help prevent the potential risk of the transmission of angiostrongyliasis in the area.
PubMed: 38009157
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01626-2 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Oct 2023Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), a zoonotic parasite invasive to the United States, causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. A. cantonensis harbors in rat...
Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), a zoonotic parasite invasive to the United States, causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. A. cantonensis harbors in rat reservoir hosts and is transmitted through gastropods and other paratenic hosts. We discuss the public health relevance of autochthonous A. cantonensis cases in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Georgia; Strongylida Infections; Gastropoda; Angiostrongylus cantonensis
PubMed: 37735783
DOI: 10.3201/eid2910.230706 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Aug 2023Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the leading cause of neuroangiostrongyliasis worldwide, and east Hawaii Island is a hotspot for the disease in the United States. A...
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the leading cause of neuroangiostrongyliasis worldwide, and east Hawaii Island is a hotspot for the disease in the United States. A combination of glycoproteins with molecular weight of 31 kDa has been used as antigen to evaluate antibody response in human serum samples in Thailand with high specificity and sensitivity. In a previous pilot study, the Thailand-isolated 31-kDa proteins showed efficacy in dot-blot tests using serum samples from 435 human volunteers on Hawaii Island. However, we hypothesized that native antigen isolated from Hawaii A. cantonensis may exhibit higher specificity than the Thailand-isolated 31-kDa antigen due to potential minor variation in epitopes between isolates. In this study, 31-kDa glycoproteins were isolated by sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from adult A. cantonensis nematodes collected from rats captured on east Hawaii Island. The resultant proteins were purified by electroelution, pooled, bioanalyzed, and quantified. A subset of 148 samples from human participants of the original cohort of 435 was consented for this study, including 12 of the original 15 clinically diagnosed participants. Results of ELISA using the Hawaii-isolated 31-kDa antigen were compared with results of the same serum samples previously tested with both crude Hawaii antigen ELISA and Thailand 31-kDa antigen dot blot. This study shows a seroprevalence in the general population of East Hawaii Island of 25.0%, similar to previous findings of 23.8% seroprevalence in this cohort using crude antigen from Hawaii A. cantonensis and 26.5% using Thailand 31-kDa antigen.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Animals; Rats; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Hawaii; Pilot Projects; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Glycoproteins; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 37308099
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0643