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Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2024A fecal survey in Tamil Nadu, India, revealed 2 persons passed schistosome eggs, later identified as Schistosoma incognitum, a parasite of pigs, dogs, and rats. We... (Review)
Review
A fecal survey in Tamil Nadu, India, revealed 2 persons passed schistosome eggs, later identified as Schistosoma incognitum, a parasite of pigs, dogs, and rats. We investigated those cases and reviewed autochthonous schistosomiasis cases from India and Nepal. Whether the 2 new cases represent true infection or spurious passage is undetermined.
Topics: Animals; India; Humans; Schistosoma; Schistosomiasis; Feces; Male; Female; Dogs; Adult; Swine; Rats; Nepal; Middle Aged; Asia, Southern
PubMed: 38782022
DOI: 10.3201/eid3006.231641 -
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles May 2024The excretory-secretory proteome plays a pivotal role in both intercellular communication during disease progression and immune escape mechanisms of various pathogens...
The excretory-secretory proteome plays a pivotal role in both intercellular communication during disease progression and immune escape mechanisms of various pathogens including cestode parasites like Taenia solium. The cysticerci of T. solium causes infection in the central nervous system known as neurocysticercosis (NCC), which affects a significant population in developing countries. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 30-150-nm-sized particles and constitute a significant part of the secretome. However, the role of EV in NCC pathogenesis remains undetermined. Here, for the first time, we report that EV from T. solium larvae is abundant in metabolites that can negatively regulate PI3K/AKT pathway, efficiently internalized by macrophages to induce AKT and mTOR degradation through auto-lysosomal route with a prominent increase in the ubiquitination of both proteins. This results in less ROS production and diminished bacterial killing capability among EV-treated macrophages. Due to this, both macro-autophagy and caspase-linked apoptosis are upregulated, with a reduction of the autophagy substrate sequestome 1. In summary, we report that T. solium EV from viable cysts attenuates the AKT-mTOR pathway thereby promoting apoptosis in macrophages, and this may exert immunosuppression during an early viable stage of the parasite in NCC, which is primarily asymptomatic. Further investigation on EV-mediated immune suppression revealed that the EV can protect the mice from DSS-induced colitis and improve colon architecture. These findings shed light on the previously unknown role of T. solium EV and the therapeutic role of their immune suppression potential.
Topics: Animals; Extracellular Vesicles; Mice; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Taenia solium; Disease Models, Animal; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Colitis; Signal Transduction; Dextran Sulfate; Macrophages; Neurocysticercosis; Apoptosis
PubMed: 38779712
DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12448 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Schistosomiasis is a common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) worldwide. Type 2 inflammation contributes to the development of Schistosoma-induced PH. Specifically,...
BACKGROUND
Schistosomiasis is a common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) worldwide. Type 2 inflammation contributes to the development of Schistosoma-induced PH. Specifically, interstitial macrophages (IMs) derived from monocytes play a pivotal role by producing thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which in turn activates TGF-β, thereby driving the pathology of PH. Resident and recruited IM subpopulations have recently been identified. We hypothesized that in Schistosoma-PH, one IM subpopulation expresses monocyte recruitment factors, whereas recruited monocytes become a separate IM subpopulation that expresses TSP-1.
METHODS
Mice were intraperitoneally sensitized and then intravenously challenged with S. mansoni eggs. Flow cytometry on lungs and blood was performed on wildtype and reporter mice to identify IM subpopulations and protein expression. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was performed on flow-sorted IMs from unexposed and at day 1, 3 and 7 following Schistosoma exposure to complement flow cytometry based IM characterization and identify gene expression.
RESULTS
Flow cytometry and scRNAseq both identified 3 IM subpopulations, characterized by CCR2, MHCII, and FOLR2 expression. Following exposure, the CCR2 IM subpopulation expanded, suggestive of circulating monocyte recruitment. exposure caused increased monocyte-recruitment ligand CCL2 expression in the resident FOLR2 IM subpopulation. In contrast, the vascular pathology-driving protein TSP-1 was greatest in the CCR2 IM subpopulation.
CONCLUSION
-induced PH involves crosstalk between IM subpopulations, with increased expression of monocyte recruitment ligands by resident FOLR2 IMs, and the recruitment of CCR2 IMs which express TSP-1 that activates TGF-β and causes PH.
Topics: Animals; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Mice; Macrophages; Phenotype; Schistosoma mansoni; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Schistosomiasis; Disease Models, Animal; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Thrombospondin 1; Monocytes; Receptors, CCR2; Female; Schistosoma; Lung
PubMed: 38779688
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1372957 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2024Several studies have shown that the euryxenic trematode Derogenes varicus (Müller, 1784) represents a species complex. Four lineages have been designated (DV1-4) with...
Untangling the Derogenes varicus species complex in Scandinavian waters and the Arctic: description of Derogenes abba n. sp. (Trematoda, Derogenidae) from Hippoglossoides platessoides and new host records for D. varicus (Müller, 1784) sensu stricto.
Several studies have shown that the euryxenic trematode Derogenes varicus (Müller, 1784) represents a species complex. Four lineages have been designated (DV1-4) with the DV1 clade corresponding to D. varicus sensu stricto. Herein, we investigate newly collected specimens of D. varicus sensu lato from Scandinavian and Arctic waters using integrative taxonomy. The trematodes were collected from Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Eutrigla gurnardus, Trachinus draco, and Merluccius merluccius off the Atlantic coast of Sweden and from Hippoglossoides platessoides from Arctic Svalbard. 28S sequences of derogenids from Sweden were identical to D. varicus sensu stricto, confirming its euryxeny. The 28S sequences of Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides were identical to Derogenes DV2 and differed from D. varicus sensu stricto by 3% and from Derogenes DV3 by 2%. The 28S sequence divergences of Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides with D. ruber and D. lacustris were 3 and 10%, respectively. ITS2 and cox1 divergences between Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides and other Derogenes species/lineages were at levels of interspecific differences. The species from H. platessoides is described here as D. abba n. sp. We also examined the type material of Progonus muelleri (Levinsen, 1881), the type and only species of the genus Progonus, with redescription and designations of paralectotypes. Based on specimens from Theodor Odhner's collections at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, SMNH, Stockholm, we provide novel morphological and anatomical data for D. varicus sensu lato species complex. Lastly, we investigated Arthur Looss's "lost collection" of Trematodes at the SMNH and characterised a putative species Derogenes sp. "limula".
Topics: Animals; Trematoda; Arctic Regions; Trematode Infections; Sweden; Phylogeny; Fish Diseases; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Gadiformes; Svalbard; DNA, Helminth
PubMed: 38775717
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024024 -
Biodiversity Data Journal 2024Microturbellarian flatworms comprise a diverse assemblage amongst meiofauna. These animals primarily exhibit carnivorous feeding habits, preying on various organisms,...
Microturbellarian flatworms comprise a diverse assemblage amongst meiofauna. These animals primarily exhibit carnivorous feeding habits, preying on various organisms, such as crustaceans, annelids and even other microturbellarians. However, details of their diet are poorly known. This study represents the first documentation of a proseriate preying upon a rhabdocoel. The proseriate was extracted from the sediment and studied alive. Within its digestive tract, structures of the reproductive systems of its prey were observed and identified as belonging to , a predatory turbellarian as well. No remains of any other organisms were detected. This finding underscores the relevance of Proseriata as top-level predators within the meiofaunal trophic web, a role that warrants further consideration beyond what has been previously acknowledged.
PubMed: 38774572
DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e116039 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024Snail-borne trematodes afflict humans, livestock, and wildlife. Recognizing their zoonotic potential and possible hybridization, a One Health approach is essential for...
BACKGROUND
Snail-borne trematodes afflict humans, livestock, and wildlife. Recognizing their zoonotic potential and possible hybridization, a One Health approach is essential for effective control. Given the dearth of knowledge on African trematodes, this study aimed to map snail and trematode diversity, focusing on (i) characterizing gastropod snail species and their trematode parasites, (ii) determining infection rates of snail species as intermediate hosts for medically, veterinary, and ecologically significant trematodes, and (iii) comparing their diversity across endemic regions.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study conducted in 2021 in Chiredzi and Wedza districts in Zimbabwe, known for high human schistosomiasis prevalence, involved malacological surveys at 56 sites. Trematode infections in snails were detected through shedding experiments and multiplex rapid diagnostic polymerase chain reactions (RD-PCRs). Morphological and molecular analyses were employed to identify snail and trematode species.
RESULTS
Among 3209 collected snail specimens, 11 species were identified, including schistosome and fasciolid competent snail species. We report for the first time the invasive exotic snail Tarebia granifera in Zimbabwe, which was highly abundant, mainly in Chiredzi, occurring at 29 out of 35 sites. Shedding experiments on 1303 snails revealed a 2.24% infection rate, with 15 trematode species identified through molecular genotyping. Five species were exclusive to Chiredzi: Bolbophorus sp., Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma mattheei, Calicophoron sp., and Uvulifer sp. Eight were exclusive to Wedza, including Trichobilharzia sp., Stephanoprora amurensis, Spirorchid sp., and Echinostoma sp. as well as an unidentified species of the Plagiorchioidea superfamily. One species, Tylodelphys mashonensis, was common to both regions. The RD-PCR screening of 976 non-shedding snails indicated a 35.7% trematode infection rate, including the presence of schistosomes (1.1%) Fasciola nyanzae (0.6%). In Chiredzi, Radix natalensis had the highest trematode infection prevalence (33.3%), while in Wedza, R. natalensis (55.4%) and Bulinus tropicus (53.2%) had the highest infection prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS
Our xenomonitoring approach unveiled 15 trematode species, including nine new records in Zimbabwe. Schistosoma mansoni persists in the study region despite six mass deworming rounds. The high snail and parasite diversity, including the presence of exotic snail species that can impact endemic species and biomedically important trematodes, underscores the need for increased monitoring.
Topics: Animals; Zimbabwe; Snails; Trematoda; Cross-Sectional Studies; Introduced Species; Fresh Water; One Health; Humans; Trematode Infections; Biodiversity; Prevalence; Schistosomiasis
PubMed: 38773521
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06307-4 -
Trends in Parasitology Jun 2024Liebold et al. recently revealed how the identity of dying cells drives distinct changes to the macrophages which engulf and clear them, a process known as...
Liebold et al. recently revealed how the identity of dying cells drives distinct changes to the macrophages which engulf and clear them, a process known as efferocytosis. During infection with the helminth Schistosoma mansoni, liver macrophages recapitulate these phenotypes, mediated by Axl/MerTK receptors and regulating egg burdens.
Topics: Animals; Macrophages; Phagocytosis; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Humans; Liver; Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase; Efferocytosis
PubMed: 38772757
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.05.004 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024Schistosoma japonicum eggs lodge in the liver and induce a fibrotic granulomatous immune response in the liver of host. Galectin 3 (Gal-3) is a protein implicated in...
BACKGROUND
Schistosoma japonicum eggs lodge in the liver and induce a fibrotic granulomatous immune response in the liver of host. Galectin 3 (Gal-3) is a protein implicated in fibrosis in multiple organs. However, the pathology and molecular mechanisms promoting hepatic granuloma formation remain poorly understood.
METHODS
To investigate the effect of blocking galectin-receptor interactions by α-lactose on liver immunopathology in mice with S. japonicum infection, C57BL/6 mice were infected with S. japonicum and alpha (α)-lactose was intraperitoneally injected to block the interactions of galectins and their receptors.
RESULTS
Compared with S. japonicum-infected mice, there were significantly decreased Gal-3 mRNA and protein expression levels, decreased intensity of Gal-3 fluorescence in the liver, decreased serum ALT and AST levels, decreased egg numbers of S. japonicum in the liver section, attenuated hepatic and spleen pathology, and alleviated liver fibrosis accompanied with decreased protein expression levels of fibrosis markers [α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and collagen IV] in the liver of S. japonicum-infected mice blocked galectin-receptor interactions with hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, or Western blot analysis. Compared with S. japonicum-infected mice, blocking galectin-receptor interactions led to increased eosinophil infiltration and higher eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) expression in the liver, accompanied by increased mRNA levels of eosinophil granule proteins [ECP and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)], IL-5, CCL11, and CCR3 in the liver and decreased mRNA levels of Gal-3 and M2 macrophage cytokines (TGF-β, IL-10, and IL-4) in the liver and spleen by using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, there were increased Beclin1 protein expression and protein expression ratio of LC3B-II/LC3B-I and decreased p62 protein expression and protein expression ratios of phospho-mTOR/mTOR and phospho-AKT/AKT by Western blot; increased double-labeled F4/80/LC3B cells by immunofluorescence staining; increased M1 macrophage polarization in the liver of S. japonicum-infected mice blocked galectin-receptor interactions by flow cytometric analysis and immunofluorescence staining.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data found that blockage of galectin-receptor interactions downregulated Gal-3, which in turn led to reduced liver functional damage, elevated liver eosinophil recruitment, promoted macrophage autophagy through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and alleviated liver pathology and fibrosis. Therefore, Gal-3 plays a pivotal role during S. japonicum infection and could be a target of pharmacologic potential for liver fibrosis induced by S. japonicum infection.
Topics: Animals; Schistosomiasis japonica; Liver Cirrhosis; Schistosoma japonicum; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; Galectin 3; Liver; Female; Lactose; Galectins
PubMed: 38769548
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06314-5 -
BMC Veterinary Research May 2024Despite the importance of the electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) and the African giant catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis) in the foodweb of Lake Nasser, Egypt,...
Two proteocephalid cestodes in the fish Malapterurus electricus and Heterobranchus bidorsalis from Lake Nasser, Egypt: a morphological, molecular, and histopathological study.
Despite the importance of the electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) and the African giant catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis) in the foodweb of Lake Nasser, Egypt, little is known about their diseases and parasitic fauna. This work describes, for the first time, cestodiasis in M. electricus and H. bidorsalis. Corallobothrium solidum and Proteocephalus sp. were identified morphologically and molecularly from M. electricus and H. bidorsalis, respectively. Using PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, the two cestodes shared rRNA gene sequence similarities yet were unique and the two new sequences for the proteocephalid genera were submitted to the GenBank database. The prevalence of infection was 75% and 40% for the two fish species, respectively. Infections significantly increased in the summer and spring and were higher in female fish than in male fish. The intestine was the preferred site of the two adult cestodes. However, in the case of C. solidum some larval cestodes were found outside the intestine in between the skin and abdominal musculature, attached to the mesentery, and within intestinal tunica muscularis. Desquamation of the intestinal epithelium and inflammation at the site of infection in addition to congestion of the intestinal wall of the tapeworm infected fish were evident, indicating that C. solidum and Proteocephalus sp. impacted the infected fish. The larval stages of C. solidum attempted to penetrate the intestine and sometimes they were encircled within fibrous layers infiltrated with inflammatory cells. The infected fish's musculature was free of cestode infections. Preventive measures should be implemented to prevent the spread of infections.
Topics: Animals; Fish Diseases; Cestoda; Egypt; Cestode Infections; Catfishes; Female; Male; Lakes; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38769538
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04048-1 -
Scientific Reports May 2024This study intends to use the basic information and blood routine of schistosomiasis patients to establish a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis. We...
This study intends to use the basic information and blood routine of schistosomiasis patients to establish a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis. We collected medical records of Schistosoma japonicum patients admitted to a hospital in China from June 2019 to June 2022. The method was to screen out the key variables and six different machine learning algorithms were used to establish prediction models. Finally, the optimal model was compared based on AUC, specificity, sensitivity and other indicators for further modeling. The interpretation of the model was shown by using the SHAP package. A total of 1049 patients' medical records were collected, and 10 key variables were screened for modeling using lasso method, including red cell distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hematocrit (HCT), Red blood cells, Eosinophils, Monocytes, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Age. Among the 6 different machine learning algorithms, LightGBM performed the best, and its AUCs in the training set and validation set were 1 and 0.818, respectively. This study established a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis in patients with Schistosoma japonicum. The model could help improve the early diagnosis and provide early intervention for schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis.
Topics: Humans; Machine Learning; Liver Cirrhosis; Schistosomiasis japonica; Male; Female; Schistosoma japonicum; Middle Aged; Adult; Animals; China; Erythrocyte Indices; Algorithms; Aged
PubMed: 38769391
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62521-1