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Journal of Water and Health May 2024worms cause a waterborne parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. It commonly affects individuals in lack of sanitation structure. In Brazil, Pará state has Belém as...
worms cause a waterborne parasitic disease called schistosomiasis. It commonly affects individuals in lack of sanitation structure. In Brazil, Pará state has Belém as one of the worst sanitation-ranking places in 2023, where schistosomiasis transmission was already documented. This study reports the occurrence of schistosomiasis in residents of Ilha das Onças, an island next to Belém. Stool samples were obtained from participants over 2 years old, all residents from Furo do Rio Grande, one of the rivers on the island. The Kato-Katz technique was performed for parasite investigation in the stool samples. Each participant responded to a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. The residences were georeferenced for map designing. Three out of 263 participants were positive, all men, ages ranging from 19 to 41 years old, with low parasitic load. Malacological surveys were carried out, but no snails were found. Risk factors for schistosomiasis establishment are present on the island, and the lack of sanitation makes it a potential risk area. Malacological surveys are highly encouraged as preventive measures, as well as health surveillance for riverside populations, generating data that will help health authorities in the management and planning of preventive control actions.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Adult; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Male; Schistosoma mansoni; Animals; Young Adult; Rivers; Female; Feces; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Child
PubMed: 38822463
DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.300 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Jun 2024Opisthorchiid flukes, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metorchis spp. are the most common fish-borne zoonotic human...
BACKGROUND
Opisthorchiid flukes, particularly Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metorchis spp. are the most common fish-borne zoonotic human liver flukes (hLFs). Liver fluke infections are more prevalent in resource-deprived and underprivileged areas. We herein estimated the prevalence of the metacercariae (MC) of major hLFs in common large freshwater fishes (lFWF) marketed for human consumption from some selected areas of Bangladesh along with detection of their molluscan vectors and reservoirs.
METHODS
The current status of fish-borne zoonotic hLF infections in lFWF was investigated along with their molluscan vectors and mammalian reservoir hosts in Mymensingh and Kishoreganj in Bangladesh from July 2018-June 2022 using conventional and multiple molecular techniques, such as PCR, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), sequencing, and bioinformatic analyses. The infection rate of fishes was analyzed using the Z-test and the loads of MC were compared using the chi-squared (χ) test.
RESULTS
The MC of C. sinensis, Opisthorchis spp., and Metorchis spp. were detected in 11 species of common and popular lFWF. In lFWF, the estimated prevalence was 18.7% and the mean load was 137.4 ± 149.8 MC per 100 g of fish. The prevalence was the highest (P < 0.05) in spotted snakehead fishes (Channa punctata, 63.6%). The highest rate of infection (P < 0.05) was observed with the MC of C. sinensis (11.8%). Metacercariae were almost equally (P > 0.05) distributed between the head and body of fishes. The infection rate was slightly higher in cultured (19.6%) fishes. The MC of C. sinensis, O. felineus, O. viverrini, and Metorchis orientalis in fishes were confirmed using PCR, PCR-RFLP and bioinformatics. The cercariae of opisthorchiid (Pleurolophocercus cercariae) flukes were only recovered from Bithynia spp. (3.9%, 42 out of 1089). The ova of hLFs from dogs (4.3%, 5 out of 116) and cats (6.0%, 6 out of 100), and adult flukes (M. orientalis) from ducks (41.1% 113 out of 275) were detected.
CONCLUSIONS
The MC of hLFs are highly prevalent in fresh water fishes in Bangladesh. Reservoir hosts, such as street dogs, cats, and ducks carried the patent infection, and residents of Bangladesh are at risk.
Topics: Animals; Bangladesh; Fishes; Fresh Water; Fish Diseases; Humans; Disease Reservoirs; Zoonoses; Disease Vectors; Prevalence; Opisthorchis; Metacercariae; Clonorchis sinensis; Mollusca
PubMed: 38822386
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01209-0 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024Snails of the Lymnaeidae family are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the causative agents of fascioliasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the...
BACKGROUND
Snails of the Lymnaeidae family are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the causative agents of fascioliasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola species in lymnaeid snails and to investigate the association of geoclimatic factors and Fasciola species distribution in northwestern provinces of Iran using geographical information system (GIS) data.
METHODS
A total of 2000 lymnaeid snails were collected from 33 permanent and seasonal habitats in northwestern Iran during the period from June to November 2021. After identification by standard morphological keys, they were subjected to shedding and crushing methods. Different stages of Fasciola obtained from these snails were subjected to the ITS1 polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for species identification. The associations of weather temperature, rainfall, humidity, evaporation, air pressure, wind speed, elevation, and land cover with the distribution of Fasciola species were investigated. Geographical and statistical analysis was performed using ArcMap and SPSS software, respectively, to determine factors related to Fasciola species distribution.
RESULTS
Of the 2000 snails collected, 19 were infected with Fasciola hepatica (0.09%), six with F. gigantica (0.03%), and 13 with other trematodes. Among geoclimatic and environmental factors, mean humidity, maximum humidity, and wind speed were significantly higher in areas where F. hepatica was more common than F. gigantica. The altitude of F. hepatica-prevalent areas was generally lower than F. gigantica areas. No significant relationship was observed between other investigated geoclimatic factors and the distribution of infected snails.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed the relationship of humidity and wind speed with the distribution of snails infected with F. hepatica or F. gigantica in the northwestern regions of Iran. In contrast to F. gigantica, F. hepatica was more prevalent in low-altitude areas. Further research is recommended to elucidate the relationship between geoclimatic factors and the presence of intermediate hosts of the two Fasciola species.
Topics: Animals; Iran; Fascioliasis; Snails; Fasciola; Fasciola hepatica; Climate; Ecosystem; Seasons; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
PubMed: 38822348
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06298-2 -
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Jul 2024Avian schistosomes inhabit the blood stream of domestic and wild birds with aquatic snails as their intermediate hosts. In the Neotropics there is an emerging effort to...
Pathological lesions associated with avian schistosomes (Digenea: Schistosomatidae) in the freshwater snail Chilina dombeiana (Gastropoda: Chilinidae) from Southern Chile.
Avian schistosomes inhabit the blood stream of domestic and wild birds with aquatic snails as their intermediate hosts. In the Neotropics there is an emerging effort to describe species from these hosts, including Chile, although the knowledge about their pathological consequences is mostly understudied. This study aimed to describe the pathological changes associated with the parasitism of a native schistosomatid restricted to the Southern Cone of Neotropics. To achieve this, a total of 401 Chilina dombeiana snails (Chilinidae) were collected in two locations from Southern Chile. All of them were disposed to cercarial release procedure for three consecutive days. Furcocercariae released were stained and characterized by microscopic evaluation. Then, all snails were dissected under stereomicroscope and preserved in 10 % buffered formalin until histopathological analysis was performed. Eight out 401 (P = 2 %) snails were found parasitized with avian schistosomes. The released furcocercariae were identified as Schistosomatidae gen. sp. Lineage II which was previously reported in the same host. The main pathological change was an atrophy of ovotestes and an absence or mild infiltration of hemocytes in the surrounding tissues. Besides, a co-infection with echinostomes was found which was associated with a moderate hemocyte infiltration, granuloma-like lesion, and a reduced presence of schistosome' sporocysts. The latter would suggest an antagonistic interaction between these two digeneans, as has been proposed in the Echinostoma spp.-Schistosoma mansoni model. Despite the above, the release of furcocercariae was present but reduced, in contrast with the non-release of echinocercariae. This interaction requires further attention. This study represents the first attempt to characterize the pathological consequences of parasitism by a native, yet undescribed, avian schistosome in an endemic snail. Future studies should consider experimental infections to understand the dynamics of single infections in other Chilina species, including inter- and intra-specific parasitism as previous studies have found, including this study.
Topics: Animals; Chile; Snails; Schistosomatidae; Birds; Bird Diseases; Fresh Water; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 38821315
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108145 -
Parasitology Research May 2024The intricate relationships between parasites and hosts encompass a wide range of levels, from molecular interactions to population dynamics. Parasites influence not...
The intricate relationships between parasites and hosts encompass a wide range of levels, from molecular interactions to population dynamics. Parasites influence not only the physiological processes in the host organism, but also the entire ecosystem, affecting mortality of individuals, the number of offspring through parasitic castration, and matter and energy cycles. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern host-parasite relationships and their impact on host physiology and environment remains challenging. In this study, we analyzed how infection with Microphallus trematodes affects the metabolome of two Littorina snail species inhabiting different intertidal zone shore levels. We applied non-targeted GC-MS-based metabolomics to analyze biochemical shifts induced by trematode infection in a host organism. We have identified changes in energy, amino acid, sugar, and lipid metabolism. In particular, we observed intensified amino acid catabolism and nitrogenous catabolites (glutamine, urea) production. These changes primarily correlated with infection and interspecies differences of the hosts rather than shore level. The changes detected in the host metabolism indicate that other aspects of life may have been affected, both within the host organism and at a supra-organismal level. Therefore, we explored changes in microbiota composition, deviations in the host molluscs behavior, and acetylcholinesterase activity (ACE, an enzyme involved in neuromuscular transmission) in relation to infection. Infected snails displayed changes in their microbiome composition. Decreased ACE activity in snails was associated with reduced mobility, but whether it is associated with trematode infection remains unclear. The authors suggest a connection between the identified biochemical changes and the deformation of the shell of molluscs, changes in their behavior, and the associated microbiome. The role of parasitic systems formed by microphallid trematodes and Littorina snails in the nitrogen cycle at the ecosystem level is also assumed.
Topics: Animals; Trematoda; Snails; Host-Parasite Interactions; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38819740
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08244-8 -
Parasitology Research May 2024A number of studies have been conducted on monogenean seasonality, though primarily in continental regions with wide annual temperatures ranges. We investigated seasonal...
A number of studies have been conducted on monogenean seasonality, though primarily in continental regions with wide annual temperatures ranges. We investigated seasonal changes in the prevalence and intensity of Salsuginus seculus infesting sexually dimorphic western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in New Zealand. This represents the first examination of seasonality for this species globally, and the first seasonal assessment of any monogenean population in New Zealand, a temperate country with a mild oceanic climate. Prevalence and intensity of S. seculus with respect to fish size and sex was also examined. Prevalence of S. seculus changed temporally, peaking in summer, and was strongly positively correlated with algal concentrations. This relationship may be associated with increasing food levels, leading to an increase in fish courting and mating, resulting in high numbers and close physical associations of G. affinis individuals, facilitating transmission of the monogeneans. Thus, biotic factors may be important in determining temporal changes in S. seculus prevalence in New Zealand. Female G. affinis had a significantly higher prevalence and mean intensity of S. seculus than males. Longer fish had a higher mean intensity and prevalence of S. seculus. Female G. affinis likely host disproportionately more monogeneans as they are larger than males. Alternatively, females may have a compromised immune response during reproductive periods. Overall, seasonal change was observed in S. seculus prevalence and intensity under New Zealand's mild climatic conditions, and the larger female G. affinis in this dimorphic species supported a greater prevalence and intensity of infestation than males.
Topics: Animals; New Zealand; Male; Female; Seasons; Prevalence; Fish Diseases; Cyprinodontiformes; Sex Factors; Body Size; Trematoda
PubMed: 38819616
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08241-x -
Journal of Helminthology May 2024The Cyathocotylidae Mühling, 1898 is a family of primitive diplostomoid trematodes important for understanding the evolution of the superfamily Diplostomoidea. However,...
The Cyathocotylidae Mühling, 1898 is a family of primitive diplostomoid trematodes important for understanding the evolution of the superfamily Diplostomoidea. However, cyathocotylids remain poorly studied with the use of molecular techniques. In this study we sequenced the 5.8S + ITS2 region, , and genes of two cyathocotylid species and obtained new morphological data on them. We propose nom. nov. instead of the preoccupied name Szidat, 1936 (junior homonym of Stremme, 1911). Adults of cf. (Ishii, 1935) and Katsurada, 1914 were collected from fish-eating birds in the south of the European part of Russia. cf. was very similar to but differed from it in the shape of the testes. The gene dataset provided the best-resolved phylogeny of the Cyathocotylidae to date. In the phylogram based on partial sequences of this gene, was close to members of Dubois, 1983, Chandler & Rausch, 1947 and Szidat, 1936. cf. clustered with members of Mühling, 1896 and Szidat, 1936. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 5.8S + ITS2 dataset showed that adults of examined in our study were conspecific with the metacercariae from the musculature of fish collected in Hungary and Italy. It also revealed probable misidentifications of larvae and adults of cyathocotylids whose sequences are deposited in GenBank NCBI.
Topics: Animals; Trematoda; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; DNA, Helminth; Russia; Birds; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Trematode Infections; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S; Bird Diseases
PubMed: 38818780
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X24000348 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024species are the causative agent of schistosomiasis and shows worldwide distribution. There is a great need to develop a sensitive diagnostic approach for controlling...
species are the causative agent of schistosomiasis and shows worldwide distribution. There is a great need to develop a sensitive diagnostic approach for controlling the disease. Previously, we identified large numbers of Extracellular Vesicle (EV) proteins from (), but rarely these proteins have been evaluated for their diagnostic potential. In the present study, we performed bioinformatic analyses of identified EV-associated proteins from the previous study and then identified -specific proteins with potentially secreted capability. Among them, we selected SJCHGC02838 protein, SJCHGC05593 protein, SJCHGC05668 protein and a hypothetical protein (SJHYP) to evaluate their diagnostic potential for detecting infection. First, we determined the expression of these four proteins at the transcript levels using qRT-PCR and revealed that all these genes showed higher expression in adult stage. Then, we cloned the full-length cDNA for each protein into a prokaryotic expression vector and successfully generated the recombinant proteins. Upon the purification of recombinant proteins, we developed an indirect ELISA method to evaluate the diagnostic potential of these purified recombinant proteins. The results showed high sensitivity for detecting infection. Additionally, these proteins also displayed a good potential for detecting infection, especially SJCHGC05668 protein at an early stage. The diagnostic potentials of these recombinant proteins were further evaluated by Western blot and comparatively analyzed by our previously developed cfDNA methods.
Topics: Schistosoma japonicum; Animals; Extracellular Vesicles; Schistosomiasis japonica; Helminth Proteins; Biomarkers; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Recombinant Proteins; Computational Biology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Mice; Humans; Female; Cloning, Molecular
PubMed: 38817446
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1391168 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Parasites possess remarkable abilities to evade and manipulate the immune response of their hosts. is a parasitic tapeworm that causes cystic echinococcosis in animals...
Parasites possess remarkable abilities to evade and manipulate the immune response of their hosts. is a parasitic tapeworm that causes cystic echinococcosis in animals and humans. The hydatid fluid released by the parasite is known to contain various immunomodulatory components that manipulate host´s defense mechanism. In this study, we focused on understanding the effect of hydatid fluid on dendritic cells and its impact on autophagy induction and subsequent T cell responses. Initially, we observed a marked downregulation of two C-type lectin receptors in the cell membrane, CLEC9A and CD205 and an increase in lysosomal activity, suggesting an active cellular response to hydatid fluid. Subsequently, we visualized ultrastructural changes in stimulated dendritic cells, revealing the presence of macroautophagy, characterized by the formation of autophagosomes, phagophores, and phagolysosomes in the cell cytoplasm. To further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in hydatid fluid-induced autophagy, we analyzed the expression of autophagy-related genes in stimulated dendritic cells. Our results demonstrated a significant upregulation of and , indicating the induction of autophagy machinery in response to hydatid fluid exposure. Additionally, using confocal microscopy, we observed an accumulation of LC3 in dendritic cell autophagosomes, confirming the activation of this catabolic pathway associated with antigen presentation. Finally, to evaluate the functional consequences of hydatid fluid-induced autophagy in DCs, we evaluated cytokine transcription in the splenocytes. Remarkably, a robust polyfunctional T cell response, with inhibition of Th2 profile, is characterized by an increase in the expression of and genes. These findings suggest that hydatid fluid-induced autophagy in dendritic cells plays a crucial role in shaping the subsequent T cell responses, which is important for a better understanding of host-parasite interactions in cystic echinococcosis.
Topics: Dendritic Cells; Animals; Echinococcus granulosus; Autophagy; Echinococcosis; T-Lymphocytes; Mice; Lectins, C-Type; Cytokines; Female; Autophagosomes
PubMed: 38817444
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1334211 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2024Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a technique increasingly used for monitoring organisms in the natural environment including riverine macroinvertebrates. However, the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a technique increasingly used for monitoring organisms in the natural environment including riverine macroinvertebrates. However, the effectiveness of eDNA for monitoring riverine macroinvertebrates compared with the more traditional method of sampling the organisms directly and identifying them via morphological analysis, has not been well established. Furthermore, the ability of the various gene markers and PCR primer sets to detect the full range of riverine invertebrate taxa has not been quantified. Here we conducted a meta-analysis of the available literature, to assess the effectiveness of eDNA sampling for detecting riverine macroinvertebrates compared with sampling for the organisms directly and applying morphological analysis. We found, on average, eDNA sampling, irrespective of the gene marker used, detected fewer riverine invertebrates than morphological sampling. The most effective PCR primer set for identifying taxa was mlCOIintF/jgHCO2198, (mlCOIintF- forward primer, jgHCO2198, - reverse primer). Regardless of the gene marker or primer sets used, however, many taxa were not detected by eDNA metabarcoding that were detected by sampling directly for these invertebrates, including over 100 members of Arthropoda. eDNA sampling failed to detect any species belonging to Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Cnidaria or Nematomorpha and these markers applied for eDNA sampling in terrestrial systems also do not detect members of Nematoda. In addition to these issues, uncertainties relating to false positives from upstream DNA sources, the stability of DNA from different species, differences in the propensity for DNA release into the environment for different organisms, and lack of available sequence information for numerous taxa illustrates the use of eDNA is not yet applicable as a robust stand-alone method for the monitoring of riverine invertebrates. As a primary consideration, further methodological developments are needed to ensure eDNA captures some of the key freshwater taxa, notably taxa belonging to the phyla Arthropoda, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, Cnidaria and Nematomorpha.
Topics: Animals; Invertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; Rivers; DNA, Environmental; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
PubMed: 38815833
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173621