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Fish & Shellfish Immunology Jun 2024Aporocotylids (Trematoda: Digenea), also known as fish blood flukes infect the circulatory system of fish leading to serious health problems and mortality. Aporocotylids... (Review)
Review
Aporocotylids (Trematoda: Digenea), also known as fish blood flukes infect the circulatory system of fish leading to serious health problems and mortality. Aporocotylids are a particular concern for farmed fish as infection intensity can increase within the farming environment and lead to mortalities. In the context of managing these infections, one of the most crucial aspects to consider is the host response of the infected fish against these blood flukes. Understanding the response is essential to improving current treatment strategies that are largely based on the use of anthelmintic praziquantel to manage infections in aquaculture. This review focuses on the current knowledge of farmed fish host responses against the different life stages of aporocotylids. New treatment strategies that are able to provide protection against reinfections should be a long-term goal and is not possible without understanding the fish response to infection and the interactions between host and parasite.
Topics: Animals; Trematode Infections; Fish Diseases; Trematoda; Aquaculture; Fishes; Host-Parasite Interactions; Anthelmintics
PubMed: 38710341
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109613 -
Heliyon May 2024Four species of dominant wild animals, namely, , , , and , are hosts of potential infectious agents, including helminths and protozoa. Therefore, it is necessary to...
Four species of dominant wild animals, namely, , , , and , are hosts of potential infectious agents, including helminths and protozoa. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the infectious agents present in these wild animals to monitor and control the spread of pathogens. In the present study, fecal samples from 51 wild animals were collected from the mountains of Yangpyeong, Hoengseong, and Cheongyang in South Korea and metabarcoding of the V9 region of the 18S rRNA gene was performed to identify various parasite species that infect these wild animals. Genes from nematodes, such as sp., spp., sp., and sp., were detected in the fecal samples from wild animals. In addition, platyhelminthes, including sp., Echinostomatidae gen. sp., sp., sp. and sp., and protozoa, including sp., sp., sp., sp., sp. and sp., were detected. In the present study, various parasites infecting wild animals were successfully identified using metabarcoding. Our technique may play a crucial role in monitoring parasites within wild animals, especially those causing zoonoses.
PubMed: 38707283
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30059 -
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology Sep 2024Neurocysticercosis is the leading cause for acquired epilepsy worldwide, and it is caused by the larval stage of the parasite Taenia solium. Several proteins of this...
Neurocysticercosis is the leading cause for acquired epilepsy worldwide, and it is caused by the larval stage of the parasite Taenia solium. Several proteins of this stage have been characterized and studied to understand the parasite-host interaction, however, the proteins from the early cysticercus stages (the postoncospheral form) have not yet been characterized. The study of the postoncospheral form proteins is important to understand the host-parasite relationship in the early stages of infection. The aim of this work was to identify postoncospheral form antigenic proteins using sera from neurocysticercosis patients. T. solium activated oncospheres were cultured in HCT-8 cells to obtain the postoncospheral form. Soluble total and excretory/secretory proteins were obtained from the postoncospheral form and were incubated with both pool sera and individual serum of neurocysticercosis positive human patients. Immunoblotting showed target antigenic proteins with apparent molecular weights of 23 kDa and 46-48 kDa. The 46-48 kDa antigen bands present in soluble total and excretory/secretory postoncospheral form proteins were analyzed by LC-MS/MS; proteins identified were: nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha, enolase, unnamed protein product/antigen diagnostic GP50, calcium binding protein calreticulin precursor and annexin. The postoncospheral form expresses proteins related to interaction with the host, some of these proteins are predicted to be exosomal proteins. In conclusion, postoncospheral proteins are consistent targets of the humoral immune response in human and may serve as targets for diagnosis and vaccines.
Topics: Taenia solium; Antigens, Helminth; Animals; Humans; Neurocysticercosis; Helminth Proteins; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Antibodies, Helminth; Chromatography, Liquid; Molecular Weight
PubMed: 38705360
DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111621 -
Acta Tropica Jul 2024Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that still represents a serious threat to human and animal...
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that still represents a serious threat to human and animal health worldwide. The Mediterranean basin is recognized as one of the major hotspots of CE due to several factors, including the presence of diverse intermediate host species as well as socio-economic and cultural conditions of local communities. This study aims to take a closer look at epidemiological data on CE in the Mediterranean area and assess the knowledge attitudes and practices of shepherds towards this disease in four countries (Algeria, Greece, Italy and Tunisia), highly endemic for CE, with the final goal of identifying highly endemic risk areas and practices in use which might potentially allow the persistence of E. granulosus infection in these areas. To update the epidemiological scenario of CE in Mediterranean areas, a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature on CE prevalence data published during the 2017-2023 period was carried out and, through a geographical information system (GIS), a map displaying the current CE distribution in the Mediterranean area was generated. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted through in-depth interviews of the farmers to collect information on their management system as well as knowledge attitudes and practices towards CE. From the farmer-participatory survey some risky practices emerged including the non-regular deworming of dogs or the use of ineffective drugs or dosing, as well as the provision of uncooked animal viscera to dogs. Finally, lower levels of knowledge and awareness of the disease was observed among farmers from North Africa compared with those of European countries. In conclusion, the results obtained highlight that CE is still a very serious problem in Mediterranean areas and increased efforts are needed to promote awareness among farmers and to turn research results into policy in order to reduce the spread of this disease, according to the One Health perspective.
Topics: Animals; Echinococcosis; Livestock; Dogs; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Echinococcus granulosus; Mediterranean Region; Dog Diseases; Greece; Zoonoses; Humans; Italy; Prevalence; Cattle; Tunisia; Algeria; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sheep; Farmers
PubMed: 38705342
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107240 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Presenting new molecular and scanning electron microscope (SEM) features, this study gives additional data to the better knowledge of Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak,...
Presenting new molecular and scanning electron microscope (SEM) features, this study gives additional data to the better knowledge of Thaparocleidus vistulensis (Siwak, 1932) (Monopisthocotyla, Ancylodiscoididae), a parasite of the European catfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758 (Siluriformes, Siluridae) cultured in a commercial fish farm in Hungary. In addition, notes on the early development of sclerotized anchors are also provided. The main morphological difference of T. vistulensis compared to other congeneric species is associated with the male copulatory organ, which exhibits 5-7 loops in the middle of the penis length and a long open V-shaped sclerotized accessory piece, dividing terminally into two parts, securing the terminal part of the penis tube. The present study provides for the first time molecular characterization data based on the 2694 bp long nucleotide sequence of rDNA (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and flanked with partial 18S and partial 28S) submitted in GenBank with the accession number OR916383. A phylogenetic tree based on ITS1 sequences supports a well-defined clade including T. vistulensis, forming a sister group with T. siluri, a species-specific monopisthocotylan parasite to S. glanis. The morphological characterization of T. vistulensis, especially for the male copulatory organ, together with the molecular data in the present study, extends knowledge about this monopisthocotylan species and provides new information for future phylogeny studies.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Male; Catfishes; Fish Diseases; Trematoda; DNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 38704408
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61032-3 -
PloS One 2024Dicrocoelium lancet flukes cause significant production loss in ruminant livestock. Although co-infection with multiple Dicrocoelium species within a host is common,...
Dicrocoelium lancet flukes cause significant production loss in ruminant livestock. Although co-infection with multiple Dicrocoelium species within a host is common, techniques for studying the composition of these complex parasite communities are lacking. The pathogenicity, epidemiology, and therapeutic susceptibility of different helminth species vary, and little is known about the interactions that take place between co-infecting species and their hosts. Here, we describe the first applicationof metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing method to studythe Dicrocoelium species in sheep and goats. First, rDNA ITS-2 sequences of four Dicrocoelium species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium orientalis, and Dicrocoelium chinensis) were extracted from the NCBI public database. Phylogenetic analysis revealed separate clades of Dicrocoelium species; hence, molecular differentiation between each species is possible in co-infections. Second, 202 flukes belonging to seventeen host populations (morphologically verified as belonging to the Dicrocoelium genus) were evaluated to determine the deep amplicon sequencing read threshold of an individual fluke for each of the four species. The accuracy of the method in proportional quantification of samples collected from single hosts was further assessed. Overall, 198 (98.01%) flukes were confirmed as D. dendriticum and 1.98% produced no reads. The comparison of genetic distances between rDNA ITS-2 revealed 86% to 98% identity between the Dicrocoelium species. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a distinct clustering of species, apart from D. orientalis and D. chinensis, which sit very close to each other in a single large clade whereas D. hospes and D. dendriticum are separated into their own clade. In conclusion each sample was identified as D. dendriticum based on the proportion of MiSeq reads and validated the presence of this group of parasites in the Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan. The metabarcoding deep amplicon sequencing technology and bioinformatics pathway have several potential applications, including species interactions during co-infections, identifying the host and geographical distribution of Dicrocoelium in livestock, drug therapy response evaluation and understanding of the emergence and spread of drug resistance.
Topics: Animals; Dicrocoelium; Sheep; Goats; Dicrocoeliasis; Pakistan; Phylogeny; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Sheep Diseases; Goat Diseases; DNA, Helminth; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; Ruminants; Coinfection
PubMed: 38683822
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302455 -
Open Veterinary Journal Mar 2024Cystic echinococcosis (CE), which is triggered by the parasite , is a global zoonotic disease that is common in rural regions in which there are frequent encounters...
BACKGROUND
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), which is triggered by the parasite , is a global zoonotic disease that is common in rural regions in which there are frequent encounters between dogs and other domestic animals. The disease can have devastating consequences, impacting the health of people and animals and leading to huge financial losses, especially in the agricultural industry. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Egypt, despite the high incidence of disease, few investigations have been conducted into the genetic variation in species of the genus .
AIM
This study sought to compare the genetic features of the hydatid cysts carried in sheep in KSA with those found in Egypt.
METHODS
DNA from the protoscolices was used in a PCR targeting the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (), and nuclear actin II () genes, and the resulting amplification products of 30 KSA and Egyptian isolates were sequenced and compared.
RESULTS
Among the sheep in KSA, the overall prevalence of CE was 0.51%. Of the sheep cyst DNA samples, 95%, 100%, and 52% were positive for the , and genes, respectively. Targeting all three genes, all KSA samples belonged to the genotype (G1), whereas all Egyptian isolates belonged to (G1) and (G6).
CONCLUSION
We conclude that isolates of from the two countries shared a common origin in Arabic North Africa, with sheep and camels as common hosts.
Topics: Animals; Echinococcus granulosus; Echinococcosis; Sheep; Egypt; Sheep Diseases; Saudi Arabia; Genotype; Prevalence
PubMed: 38682137
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i3.14 -
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Jun 2024Freshwater snails are integral to local ecosystems as a primary food source for various vertebrate species, thereby contributing significantly to ecological food webs....
Freshwater snails are integral to local ecosystems as a primary food source for various vertebrate species, thereby contributing significantly to ecological food webs. However, their role as intermediate hosts also makes them pivotal in the transmission of parasites. In Australia, research on freshwater snails has predominantly focused on their role as intermediate hosts for livestock parasites, while there has been limited exploration of the impact of these parasites on snail health and population dynamics. The aim of this study was to determine parasitic infection in freshwater snails. This study was conducted in the south-eastern region of Australia, in 2022. A total of 163 freshwater snails from four different species were collected and examined in the Murrumbidgee catchment area in the southeastern part of Australia during the Southern Hemisphere summer and autumn months (February to May). The species included Isidorella hainesii, Glyptophysa novaehollandica, Bullastra lessoni (endemic species), and Physella acuta (an introduced species). Through the analysis of sequence data from the various regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, we determined that the Digenea species in this study belonged to three distinct species, including Choanocotyle hobbsi, Petasiger sp. and an unidentified species belonging to Plagiorchioidea. Additionally, analysis of the sequences from Nematoda found in this study, revealed they could be categorized into two separate taxa, including Krefftascaris sp. and an unidentified nematode closely associated with plant and soil nematodes. This research holds significant implications for the future understanding and conservation of Australian freshwater ecosystems. Most parasites found in the present study complete their life cycle in snails and turtles. As many of freshwater snail and turtle species in Australia are endemic and face population threats, exploring the potential adverse impacts of parasitic infections on snail and turtle health, is crucial for advancing our understanding of these ecosystems and also paving the way for future research and conservation efforts. While none of the native snail species in the present study have been listed as endangered or threatened, this may simply be attributed to the absence of regular population surveys.
Topics: Animals; Snails; Australia; Trematoda; Fresh Water; Nematoda
PubMed: 38679367
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108116 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology Aug 2024Estrogen receptors (ERs) are thought to be the ancestor of all steroid receptors and are present in most lophotrochozoans studied to date, including molluscs, annelids,... (Review)
Review
Estrogen receptors (ERs) are thought to be the ancestor of all steroid receptors and are present in most lophotrochozoans studied to date, including molluscs, annelids, and rotifers. A number of studies have investigated the functional role of estrogen receptors in invertebrate species, although most are in molluscs, where the receptor is constitutively active. In vitro experiments provided evidence for ligand-activated estrogen receptors in annelids, raising important questions about the role of estrogen signalling in lophotrochozoan lineages. Here, we review the concordant and discordant evidence of estradiol receptor signalling in lophotrochozoans, with a focus on annelids and rotifers. We explore the de novo synthesis of estrogens, the evolution and expression of estrogen receptors, and physiological responses to activation of estrogen receptors in the lophotrochozoan phyla Annelida and Rotifera. Key data are missing to determine if de novo biosynthesis of estradiol in non-molluscan lophotrochozoans is likely. For example, an ortholog for the CYP11 gene is present, but confirmation of substrate conversion and measured tissue products is lacking. Orthologs CYP17 and CYP19 are lacking, yet intermediates or products (e.g. estradiol) in tissues have been measured. Estrogen receptors are present in multiple species, and for a limited number, in vitro data show agonist binding of estradiol and/or transcriptional activation. The expression patterns of the lophotrochozoan ERs suggest developmental, reproductive, and digestive roles but are highly species dependent. E exposures suggest that lophotrochozoan ERs may play a role in reproduction, but no strong dose-response relationship has been established. Therefore, we expect most lophotrochozoan species, outside of perhaps platyhelminths, to have an ER but their physiological role remains elusive. Mining genomes for orthologs gene families responsible for steroidogenesis, coupled with in vitro and in vivo studies of the steroid pathway are needed to better assess whether lophotrochozoans are capable of estradiol biosynthesis. One major challenge is that much of the data are divided across a diversity of species. We propose that the polychaetes Capitella teleta or Platyneris dumerilii, and rotifer Brachionus manjavacas may be strong species choices for studies of estrogen receptor signalling, because of available genomic data, established laboratory culture techniques, and gene knockout potential.
Topics: Animals; Signal Transduction; Receptors, Estradiol; Annelida; Receptors, Estrogen; Rotifera; Estradiol
PubMed: 38677339
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114519 -
Fish & Shellfish Immunology Jun 2024Wild organisms are regularly exposed to a wide range of parasites, requiring the management of an effective immune response while avoiding immunopathology. Currently,...
Wild organisms are regularly exposed to a wide range of parasites, requiring the management of an effective immune response while avoiding immunopathology. Currently, our knowledge of immunoparasitology primarily derives from controlled laboratory studies, neglecting the genetic and environmental diversity that contribute to immune phenotypes observed in wild populations. To gain insight into the immunologic variability in natural settings, we examined differences in immune gene expression of two Alaskan stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations with varying susceptibility to infection by the cestode Schistocephalus solidus. Between these two populations, we found distinct immune gene expression patterns at the population level in response to infection with fish from the high-infection population displaying signs of parasite-driven immune manipulation. Further, we found significant differences in baseline immune gene profiles between the populations, with uninfected low-infection population fish showing signatures of inflammation compared to uninfected high-infection population fish. These results shed light on divergent responses of wild populations to the same parasite, providing valuable insights into host-parasite interactions in natural ecosystems.
Topics: Animals; Smegmamorpha; Fish Diseases; Cestode Infections; Cestoda; Host-Parasite Interactions; Alaska; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 38663464
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109580