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Veterinary Pathology Mar 2024The European hedgehog () is a common wildlife species in European countries. Populations are declining due to anthropogenic factors and natural diseases. Verminous...
The European hedgehog () is a common wildlife species in European countries. Populations are declining due to anthropogenic factors and natural diseases. Verminous pneumonia has been observed as a frequent infectious disease in hedgehogs submitted for diagnostic postmortem examination. This prompted the present in-depth investigation on the lungs of 27 necropsied hedgehogs with confirmed lungworm infections, with or without antiparasitic treatment prior to death. The histological and/or parasitic (fecal samples) examination identified infection in most animals (82%). The parasites were found free in the airway lumen and/or within the airway epithelium, from the larynx to bronchioles. Embedded worms and eggs were associated with epithelial hyperplasia or metaplasia, and long-term inflammation. More than half of the animals (59%) carried , and 41% had a coinfection. adults were predominantly found free in the lumen of bronchi and bronchioles, and larvae were occasionally seen in granulomas in the pulmonary interstitium, the liver, and the intestine. Independent of the parasite species, a lymphoplasmacytic peribronchitis and, less frequently, interstitial infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages as well as pneumocyte type II hyperplasia was seen. Interestingly, the extent of pneumonia was not correlated with age, respiratory clinical signs, antiparasitic treatment, or single or coinfection. Verminous pneumonia appeared to be the cause of death in over 25% of the animals, indicating that these parasites not only coexist with hedgehogs but can also be a primary pathogen in this species.
Topics: Animals; Hedgehogs; Coinfection; Hyperplasia; Pneumonia; Antiparasitic Agents
PubMed: 37681312
DOI: 10.1177/03009858231193103 -
Parasitology Research Aug 2023Malaria continues to cause untold hardship to inhabitants of malaria-endemic regions, causing significant morbidity and mortality that severely impact global health and... (Review)
Review
Malaria continues to cause untold hardship to inhabitants of malaria-endemic regions, causing significant morbidity and mortality that severely impact global health and the economy. Considering the complex life cycle of malaria parasites (MPs) and malaria biology, continued research efforts are ongoing to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of the diseases. Female Anopheles mosquito injects MPs into its hosts during a blood meal, and MPs invade the host skin and the hepatocytes without causing any serious symptoms. Symptomatic infections occur only during the erythrocytic stage. In most cases, the host's innate immunity (for malaria-naïve individuals) and adaptive immunity (for pre-exposed individuals) mount severe attacks and destroy most MPs. It is increasingly understood that MPs have developed several mechanisms to escape from the host's immune destruction. This review presents recent knowledge on how the host's immune system destroys invading MPs as well as MPs survival or host immune evasion mechanisms. On the invasion of host cells, MPs release molecules that bind to cell surface receptors to reprogram the host in a way to lose the capacity to destroy them. MPs also hide from the host immune cells by inducing the clustering of both infected and uninfected erythrocytes (rosettes), as well as inducing endothelial activation. We hope this review will inspire more research to provide a complete understanding of malaria biology and promote interventions to eradicate the notorious disease.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Parasites; Malaria; Immunity, Innate; Anopheles; Plasmodium falciparum
PubMed: 37219610
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07868-6 -
Parasitology Research Nov 2023The chance of getting colorectal cancer (CRC) is higher in people with chronic ulcerative colitis (UC). The impact of parasitic infections on UC is underappreciated. The...
The chance of getting colorectal cancer (CRC) is higher in people with chronic ulcerative colitis (UC). The impact of parasitic infections on UC is underappreciated. The purpose of this study was to look into the effect of intestinal protozoal infections on the dysplastic changes generated by UC. The research included 152 adult patients with histologically confirmed UC and 152 healthy controls. Fecal samples were examined for the presence of parasites and fecal calprotectin (FC). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured serum anti-p53 antibodies (p53Abs) and metallothioneins (MTs). The advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured by a spectrophotometric method in all subjects. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 were also measured. In addition, histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations of intestinal tissue were done. Our results exhibited significant increases in FC and CRP, IL-6, AOPPs, MTs, and p53Abs in ulcerative colitis patients with parasitic infections compared to those without parasites. In contrast, GSH levels showed a significant decrease in the same group compared with other groups. Histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments of intestinal tissue signified severe inflammation and strong expression of PD-L1 in patients with parasitic infections compared to others without parasitic infections. Our research indicated a greater frequency of intestinal protozoa in UC patients with elevated inflammatory and dysplastic biomarker levels. This suggests that these parasites may be involved in the etiology of chronic UC and the associated carcinogenetic process. This is the first report of a link between parasitic infections and dysplastic alterations in UC patients.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Colitis, Ulcerative; Advanced Oxidation Protein Products; Interleukin-6; Antibodies; Biomarkers; Parasitic Diseases; Feces
PubMed: 37710023
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07972-7 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023and are etiological agents of enteric diseases characterized by diarrhea that can progress to chronicity in humans, especially in children and in immunocompromised...
and are etiological agents of enteric diseases characterized by diarrhea that can progress to chronicity in humans, especially in children and in immunocompromised patients. This study aims to assess the genetic pattern of and detected in vegetables and fruits commercialized in Maputo markets, Mozambique and determine their public health importance. Eight study points were sampled: a farmer zone, a wholesale, four retail markets, and two supermarkets in Maputo city, where eight types of horticultural products were purchased. Using nested-PCR methods, 2.8% (9/321) and 1.3% (4/321) of samples monitored were positive for and , respectively. Based on the analysis of the β-giardin and ITS rRNA sequences of and detected, respectively, four different sequences of (three novel sequences: BgMZ1, BgMZ2, and BgMZ3, and one known sequence) all from assemblage B and three genotypes of (two novel sequences: EbMZ4 and EbMZ5, and one known sequence: KIN-1) from group 1. These microorganisms were found and characterized for the first time in horticultural products in Maputo markets. All identified and display high genetic similarity within their β-giardin and ITS rRNA sequences, respectively, having been clustered into assemblages and genotypes with high zoonotic transmission potential. Our study may represent a relevant step in the understanding of these intestinal pathogens in association with fresh vegetables and fruits for human consumption, for a better and broader "One Health" approach.
PubMed: 37601378
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1223151 -
Parasitology Research Nov 2023Over the past three decades, a notable rise in the occurrence of enteric protozoan pathogens, especially Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., in drinking water sources has...
Over the past three decades, a notable rise in the occurrence of enteric protozoan pathogens, especially Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., in drinking water sources has been observed. This rise could be attributed not only to an actual increase in water contamination but also to improvements in detection methods. These waterborne pathogens have played a pivotal role in disease outbreaks and the overall escalation of disease rates in both developed and developing nations worldwide. Consequently, the control of waterborne diseases has become a vital component of public health policies and a primary objective of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Limited studies applied real-time PCR (qPCR) and/or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for monitoring Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., particularly in developing countries like Egypt. Water samples from two conventional drinking water treatment plants and two compact units (CUs) were analyzed using both IFA and qPCR methods to detect Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Using qPCR and IFA, the conventional DWTPs showed complete removal of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs achieved only partial removal. Specifically, Cryptosporidium gene copies removal rates were 33.33% and 60% for Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs, respectively. Niklah CU also removed 50% of Giardia gene copies, but no Giardia gene copies were removed by Mansheyat Alqanater CU. Using IFA, both Mansheyat Alqanater and Niklah CUs showed a similar removal rate of 50% for Giardia cysts. Additionally, Niklah CU achieved a 50% removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts, whereas Mansheyat Alqanater CU did not show any removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Conventional DWTPs were more effective than CUs in removing enteric protozoa. The contamination of drinking water by enteric pathogenic protozoa remains a significant issue globally, leading to increased disease rates. Infectious disease surveillance in drinking water is an important epidemiological tool to monitor the health of a population.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Giardia; Cryptosporidium; Drinking Water; Cryptosporidiosis; Giardiasis; Water Purification; Oocysts
PubMed: 37632544
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07947-8 -
EMBO Molecular Medicine Feb 2024Cerebral malaria (CM), the most lethal complication of Plasmodium falciparum severe malaria (SM), remains fatal for 15-25% of affected children despite the availability...
Cerebral malaria (CM), the most lethal complication of Plasmodium falciparum severe malaria (SM), remains fatal for 15-25% of affected children despite the availability of treatment. P. falciparum infects and multiplies in erythrocytes, contributing to anemia, parasite sequestration, and inflammation. An unbiased proteomic assessment of infected erythrocytes and plasma samples from 24 Beninese children was performed to study the complex mechanisms underlying CM. A significant down-regulation of proteins from the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and an up-regulation of the erythroid precursor marker transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFRC) were associated with infected erythrocytes from CM patients. At the plasma level, the samples clustered according to clinical presentation. Significantly, increased levels of the 20S proteasome components were associated with SM. Targeted quantification assays confirmed these findings on a larger cohort (n = 340). These findings suggest that parasites causing CM preferentially infect reticulocytes or erythroblasts and alter their maturation. Importantly, the host plasma proteome serves as a specific signature of SM and presents a remarkable opportunity for developing innovative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Topics: Child; Humans; Plasmodium falciparum; Proteomics; Malaria, Cerebral; Malaria, Falciparum; Erythrocytes
PubMed: 38297098
DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00010-0 -
Parasites & Vectors Dec 2023Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable genetic diversity, T. gondii strains differ widely according to geographical location, with archetypal strains predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and non-archetypal (atypical) strains, with highly diverse genotypes, found mainly in South America. In this review, we present an overview of the identification and distribution of non-archetypal strains of T. gondii. Special attention is paid to the strains that have been isolated in Brazil, their interaction with the host immunological response, and their impact on disease outcomes. The genetic differences among the strains are pivotal to the distinct immunological responses that they elicit. These differences arise from polymorphisms of key proteins released by the parasite, which represent important virulence factors. Infection with divergent non-archetypal strains can lead to unusual manifestations of the disease, even in immunocompetent individuals.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Animals; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Genotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Brazil; Genetic Variation; Toxoplasmosis, Animal
PubMed: 38115102
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06080-w -
IScience Jul 2023, a human malaria parasite, develops in red blood cells (RBCs), which represent approximately 70% of all human blood cells. Additionally, RBC-derived extracellular...
, a human malaria parasite, develops in red blood cells (RBCs), which represent approximately 70% of all human blood cells. Additionally, RBC-derived extracellular vesicles (RBC-EVs) represent 7.3% of the total EV population. The roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the consequences of infection are unclear. Here, we analyzed the miRNA profiles of non-infected human RBCs (niRBCs), ring-infected RBCs (riRBCs), and trophozoite-infected RBCs (trRBCs), as well as those of EVs secreted from these cells. Hsa-miR-451a was the most abundant miRNA in all RBC and RBC-EV populations, but its expression level was not affected by infection. Overall, the miRNA profiles of RBCs and their EVs were altered significantly after infection. Most of the differentially expressed miRNAs were shared between RBCs and their EVs. A target prediction analysis of the miRNAs revealed the possible identity of the genes targeted by these miRNAs (CXCL10, OAS1, IL7, and CCL5) involved in immunomodulation.
PubMed: 37534175
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107119 -
Parasites & Vectors Jul 2023Squamate reptiles cohabiting with companion animals may represent a source of helminth infections, especially through predation by dogs and cats with an outdoor...
BACKGROUND
Squamate reptiles cohabiting with companion animals may represent a source of helminth infections, especially through predation by dogs and cats with an outdoor lifestyle.
METHODS
In order to assess the role of reptiles as intermediate/paratenic hosts of trophically transmitted helminths, synanthropic reptiles (n = 245) captured from different ecological settings (i.e., households, dog shelters, urban, peri-urban and rural areas or natural parks) of southern Italy were examined for endoparasites. Parasitic cysts (i.e., larval forms of acanthocephalans, cestodes and nematodes) and free helminths (i.e., adult nematodes and digeneans) were morphologically and molecularly identified, and statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the correlations between reptiles, infections, and ecological settings.
RESULTS
Overall, 31% of reptiles were positive for at least one helminth, with Podarcis siculus (18.7%) and Tarentola mauritanica (8.1%) being the most frequently infected species. Among the parasites of medical interest, Joyeuxiella echinorhyncoides showed the highest prevalence (19.7%), followed by Diplopylidium acanthotetra (10.5%), Joyeuxiella pasqualei, Mesocestoides lineatus (5.6%) and Physaloptera sp. (3.9%). Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus was detected once. Podarcis siculus and T. mauritanica were associated with cestode infections.
CONCLUSIONS
The wide range of helminths detected here in reptiles living in sympatry with pets and the fact that many of these helminth species are parasitic and may infect companion animals (e.g., J. pasqualei, J. echinorhyncoides, D. acanthotetra, Physaloptera sp.) and humans (i.e., Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus, Mesocestoides lineatus) indicate the potential health risk associated with pets preying on these small vertebrates. Our results indicate the need for complementary investigations of trophically transmitted parasites in dogs and cats living in sympatry with reptiles.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Animals; Dogs; Cats; Pets; Cat Diseases; Helminthiasis, Animal; Dog Diseases; Helminths; Cestode Infections; Parasites; Cestoda; Lizards; Acanthocephala; Mesocestoides
PubMed: 37452384
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05852-8 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jan 2024The intestinal protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. A national microbiological surveillance programme was implemented...
BACKGROUND
The intestinal protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. A national microbiological surveillance programme was implemented in Sweden in 2018 in order to increase knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis to better understand transmission patterns and potential zoonotic sources. This article summarises the results of the first five years of the surveillance programme.
METHODS
Cryptosporidium-positive faecal and DNA samples from domestically acquired infections were collected from clinical microbiological laboratories in Sweden. Species and subtype determination was performed using 60 kDa glycoprotein and/or small subunit ribosomal RNA gene analysis.
RESULTS
Between 2018 and 2022, 1654 samples were analysed and 11 different species were identified: C. parvum (n = 1412), C. mortiferum (n = 59), C. hominis (n = 56), C. erinacei (n = 11), C. cuniculus (n = 5), C. meleagridis (n = 3), C. equi (n = 2), C. ubiquitum (n = 2), and one each of C. canis, C. ditrichi and C. felis. Subtyping revealed seven subtype families of C. parvum (new subtype families IIy and IIz) and 69 different subtypes (11 new subtypes). The most common C. parvum subtypes were IIdA22G1c, IIdA24G1, IIdA15G2R1 and IIaA16G1R1b. For C. hominis, four different subtype families and nine different subtypes (two new subtypes) were identified. For additional species, two new subtype families (IIIk and VId) and nine new subtypes were identified. All successfully subtyped C. mortiferum cases were subtype XIVaA20G2T1, confirming previous findings in Sweden. Several outbreaks were identified of which the majority were foodborne and a few were due to direct contact with infected animals.
CONCLUSION
Infection with C. parvum is the leading cause of human cryptosporidiosis acquired in Sweden, where more than 90% of domestic cases are caused by this zoonotic species and only a small proportion of cases are due to infection with other species. The rodent-associated C. mortiferum is considered an emerging zoonotic species in Sweden and the number of domestically acquired human cases has surpassed that of infection with C. hominis. A high diversity of species and subtypes, as well as diversity within the same subtype, was detected. Also, cryptosporidiosis appears to affect adults to a great extent in Sweden.
Topics: Animals; Adult; Humans; Cryptosporidium; Cryptosporidiosis; Sweden; Genotype; Sequence Analysis, DNA; DNA, Protozoan; Feces
PubMed: 38291399
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09049-x