-
International Journal For Parasitology.... Dec 2018The population of California sea lion (CSL) has steadily increased during the last several decades. Despite extensive research addressing CSL biology and ecology...
The population of California sea lion (CSL) has steadily increased during the last several decades. Despite extensive research addressing CSL biology and ecology performed during the last decades, there has been a minimal number of published papers documenting their parasite fauna. Our objective was to analyze the actual list of the metazoan parasites reported from CSLs and add new data on the age-related differences in the prevalence and biodiversity of the parasite community. There have been 33 species recorded but this study considers only 24 of them valid. Among them, 11 species are specific parasites of CSLs and 13 species are not specific. Additional species represent accidental infections or misidentifications. In total, 6653 helminths and 847 mites were collected and identified from 34 CSLs for this study. Six species of nematodes, . . (prevalence 41%; intensity 7.6), . . (38%; 269.6), . . (29%; 33), (9%; 2.7), (15%; 3.5) and were found. Two species of cestodes, sp. (38%; 8.5) and sp. (15%; 14.6) represent novel undescribed species. Two species of trematodes, (18%; 19.7) and (12%; 39.2), and five species of acanthocephalans, (68%; 100.8), (53%; 4.6), (3%; 1), sp. (9%; 4.3) and (6%; 8.5) were found. Mites (prevalence 85%) were found in the nasal cavity, while (21%) parasitized in the trachea and bronchi. The highest levels of infection with nematodes and trematodes were found in adult CSLs (3-16 years old), whereas the highest level of infection with acanthocephalans was found in young CSLs (pups and yearlings).
PubMed: 30228958
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.09.001 -
Journal of Food Protection Mar 2018Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) is one of the most important fish species in the fisheries industries of many countries; however, these fish are often infected with...
Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) is one of the most important fish species in the fisheries industries of many countries; however, these fish are often infected with parasites. The detection of pathogenic larval nematodes is usually performed in fish processing facilities by visual examination using candling or by digesting muscles in artificial digestive juices, but these methods are both time and labor intensive. This article presents an innovative approach to the analysis of cod parasites from both the Atlantic and Baltic Sea areas through the application of rough set theory, one of the methods of artificial intelligence, for the prediction of food safety in a food production chain. The parasitological examinations were performed focusing on nematode larvae pathogenic to humans, e.g., Anisakis simplex, Contracaecum osculatum, and Pseudoterranova decipiens. The analysis allowed identification of protocols with which it is possible to make preliminary estimates of the quantity and quality of parasites found in cod catches before detailed analyses are performed. The results indicate that the method used can be an effective analytical tool for these types of data. To achieve this goal, a database is needed that contains the patterns intensity of parasite infections and the conditions of commercial fish species in different localities in their distributions.
Topics: Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Fish Diseases; Gadus morhua
PubMed: 29474152
DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-371 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2017Anisakis simplex is the only fishery-product associated parasite causing clinical allergic responses in humans so far. However, other anisakids, due to the presence of...
BACKGROUND
Anisakis simplex is the only fishery-product associated parasite causing clinical allergic responses in humans so far. However, other anisakids, due to the presence of shared or own allergens, could also lead to allergic reactions after sensitization. The aim of this study was to determine if Pseudoterranova decipiens belonging to the family Anisakidae has allergenic activity and is able to induce sensitization after oral administration in a murine (BALB/c mice) model.
RESULTS
The ingestion of A. pegreffii proteins by BALB/c mice, which had been previously sensitized by intraperitoneal inoculation with the corresponding live L3 larvae, triggers signs of allergy within 60 min, whereas P. decipiens did to a lesser extent. Beside symptoms, allergic reactions were furtherly supported by the presence of histamine in sera of sensitized mice. Specific IgG1 and IgE responses were detected in sera of all sensitized mice from week four. Specific IgG2a response was detected in sera from mice sensitized to P. decipiens. After polyclonal or specific activation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 or antigens, respectively, splenocytes from mice infected i.p. with A. pegreffii or P. decipiens larvae showed significantly higher production of IL-10 than naïve mice. After stimulation with specific antigens, significantly higher IL-5 and IL-13 amounts were produced by specific antigen stimulated splenocytes than by the naïve cells; only P. decipiens proteins induced IFN-ɣ.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall results suggest that infection with P. decipiens can sensitize mice to react to subsequent oral challenge with anisakid proteins, as described for A. simplex (sensu stricto) and A. pegreffii infections. The results show that anisakid proteins induce a dominant Th2 response, although P. decipiens could also induce a mixed type 1/type 2 pattern.
Topics: Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; Ascaridoidea; Female; Histamine; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Immunization; Interleukins; Larva; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 28606183
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2231-4 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2017Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main genera involved in human infections caused by nematodes of the Anisakidae family. Species identification is complicated due to...
BACKGROUND
Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main genera involved in human infections caused by nematodes of the Anisakidae family. Species identification is complicated due to the lack of differential morphological characteristics at the larval stage, thus requiring molecular differentiation. Pseudoterranova larvae ingested through raw fish are spontaneously eliminated in most cases, but mechanical removal by means of endoscopy might be required. To date, only very few cases of Pseudoterranova infection have been reported in France.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 19-year-old woman from Northeastern France detected, while brushing her teeth, a larva exiting through her mouth. The patient who presented with headache, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps reported having eaten baked cod. The worm was a fourth-stage larva with a size of 22 × 0.9 mm, and molecular biology identified it as Pseudoterranova decipiens sensu stricto (s. s.). In a second P. decipiens infection case, occurring a few months later, a worm exited through the patient's nose after she had eaten raw sea bream.
CONCLUSION
These two cases demonstrate that Pseudoterranova infection is not uncommon among French patients. Therefore, molecular techniques should be more widely applied for a better characterization of anisakidosis epidemiology in France.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida Infections; Ascaridoidea; Female; Fishes; Food Contamination; France; Humans; Larva; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Young Adult
PubMed: 28583155
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2493-7 -
Parasitology Research Jul 2017Anisakis simplex larvae are well known to cause gastrointestinal and allergic manifestations after ingestion of parasitized raw or undercooked seafood. The antibody...
Anisakis simplex larvae are well known to cause gastrointestinal and allergic manifestations after ingestion of parasitized raw or undercooked seafood. The antibody recognition dynamics against the components of Anisakis larval antigen after primary and re-infection with Anisakis live larvae remain unclear. For this study, immunoblot analyses of serum IgG, IgE, and IgM against Anisakis larval somatic extract were performed in rats that had been orally inoculated with A. simplex live larvae. Multiple antigen fractions were recognized after primary infection. Their reaction was enhanced after re-infection. Antibody recognition was observed for 12 weeks after re-infection. The fraction of approximately 35 kDa contained a main antigen that induced strong and prolonged immunoreactions in IgG and IgE. The antibody reaction to this fraction appeared to be enhanced after inoculation of larval homogenates. This fraction was heat tolerant with boiling for 30 min. The fraction was spotted by immunoblotting after two-dimensional electrophoresis and was identified as Anisakis haemoglobin (Ani s 13) using mass spectrometry analysis. The amino acid sequences of haemoglobin mRNAs from two A. simplex sensu stricto and one Anisakis pegreffii were identified by RACE-PCR. They differed from those of two isolates of Pseudoterranova decipiens and A. pegreffii. Results of this study show that Anisakis haemoglobin, which is known to be a major allergen of A. simplex, induces strong and prolonged immunoreaction in rats. This report is the first to show the amino acid sequence variation of Anisakis haemoglobin mRNA between A. simplex sensu stricto and A. pegreffii.
Topics: Allergens; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Antigens, Helminth; Hemoglobins; Immunoblotting; Larva; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rats; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 28497226
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5475-1 -
Journal of Helminthology Jan 2018Populations of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), sprats (Sprattus sprattus) and cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea are relatively stationary. The present work, applying...
Populations of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), sprats (Sprattus sprattus) and cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea are relatively stationary. The present work, applying classical and molecular helminthological techniques, documents that seals and cod also share a common parasite, the anisakid nematode Contracaecum osculatum, which uses seals as the final host and fish as transport hosts. Sequencing mitochondrial genes (COX1 and COX2) in adult worms from seals and third-stage larvae from livers of Baltic fish (sprats and cod), showed that all gene variants occur in both seals and fish. Other anisakid nematodes Pseudoterranova decipiens and Anisakis simplex are also found in both seals and cod in the Baltic Sea, but at much lower rates. The Baltic grey seal population was left at a critically low level (comprising a few hundred individuals) during the latter part of the 20th century, but since the year 2000 a marked increase in the population has been observed, reaching more than 40,000 individuals at present. Ecological consequences of the increased seal abundance may result from increased predation on fish stocks, but recent evidence also points to the influence of elevated parasitism on fish performance. Contracaecum osculatum larvae preferentially infect the liver of Baltic cod, considered a vital organ of the host. Whereas low prevalences and intensities in cod were reported during the 1980s and 1990s, the present study documents 100% prevalence and a mean intensity of above 80 worms per fish. Recent studies have also indicated the zoonotic potential of C. osculatum larvae in fish, following the consumption of raw or under-cooked fish. Therefore the present work discusses the impact of parasitism on the cod stock and the increasing risk for consumer health, and lists possible solutions for control.
Topics: Animals; Fish Diseases; Gadus morhua; Nematoda; Nematode Infections; Phyllachorales; Seals, Earless
PubMed: 28124629
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X17000025 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2016Ascaridomorph nematodes threaten the health of humans and other animals worldwide. Despite their medical, veterinary and economic importance, the identification of...
Ascaridomorph nematodes threaten the health of humans and other animals worldwide. Despite their medical, veterinary and economic importance, the identification of species lineages and establishing their phylogenetic relationships have proved difficult in some cases. Many working hypotheses regarding the phylogeny of ascaridomorphs have been based on single-locus data, most typically nuclear ribosomal RNA. Such single-locus hypotheses lack independent corroboration, and for nuclear rRNA typically lack resolution for deep relationships. As an alternative approach, we analyzed the mitochondrial (mt) genomes of anisakids (~14 kb) from different fish hosts in multiple countries, in combination with those of other ascaridomorphs available in the GenBank database. The circular mt genomes range from 13,948-14,019 bp in size and encode 12 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs and 22 transfer RNA genes. Our analysis showed that the Pseudoterranova decipiens complex consists of at least six cryptic species. In contrast, the hypothesis that Contracaecum ogmorhini represents a complex of cryptic species is not supported by mt genome data. Our analysis recovered several fundamental and uncontroversial ascaridomorph clades, including the monophyly of superfamilies and families, except for Ascaridiidae, which was consistent with the results based on nuclear rRNA analysis. In conclusion, mt genome analysis provided new insights into the phylogeny and taxonomy of ascaridomorph nematodes.
Topics: Animals; Anisakis; Bayes Theorem; DNA, Mitochondrial; Databases, Genetic; Fishes; Genome, Mitochondrial; Likelihood Functions; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 27982084
DOI: 10.1038/srep39248 -
Parasitology International Oct 2016Members of the genera Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main causative agents of human anisakidosis: the disease is worldwide distributed, with major impact in...
Members of the genera Anisakis and Pseudoterranova are the main causative agents of human anisakidosis: the disease is worldwide distributed, with major impact in countries with a large consumption of raw fish. Because of unspecific symptoms and limited diagnostic tools, incidence and burden of disease are probably underestimated. In Italy, all human infestations where the etiological agent has been properly identified, have been associated to the parasitic species Anisakis pegreffii, the most frequent anisakid in the Mediterranean area. Here, an invasive human case of pseudoterranoviasis is described for the first time in Italy: in 2015, a woman was found infected during a colonoscopy scheduled after the occurrence of nonspecific clinical symptoms. The nematode was found penetrating the ascending colon. The identification was performed by sequencing the mitochondrial region cox2 and by comparison to GenBank retrieved material using the BLAST search tool. The sample showed a 99% identity with Pseudoterranova decipiens sensu stricto. The record underlines the potential risk due to the consumption of raw or undercooked imported fishes.
Topics: Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Ascaridida; Ascaridida Infections; Base Sequence; Electron Transport Complex IV; Female; Fish Diseases; Fishes; Food Parasitology; Humans; Italy; Larva; Sequence Alignment; Zoonoses
PubMed: 27395343
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.07.003 -
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Jun 2016A significant increase in the infection level of Baltic cod Gadus morhua with the anisakid nematode larvae Contracaecum osculatum and Pseudoterranova decipiens has been...
A significant increase in the infection level of Baltic cod Gadus morhua with the anisakid nematode larvae Contracaecum osculatum and Pseudoterranova decipiens has been recorded during recent years due to the expanding local population of grey seals Halichoerus grypus, which act as final hosts for these parasites. Here, we report from an investigation of 368 cod (total length [TL] 6-49 cm; caught in ICES Subdivision 25) that the infection level of juvenile cod (TL 6-30 cm) with larvae of C. osculatum and P. decipiens is absent or very low, whereas it increases drastically in larger cod (TL 31-48 cm). A third nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum was rarely found. The study indicates that the prey animals for large cod act as transport hosts for the parasite larvae. Analyses of stomach contents of cod caught in the same area (2007-2014) showed that small benthic organisms (including polychaetes Harmothoë sarsi) are preferred food items by small cod, the isopod Saduria entomon is taken by all size classes, and sprat Sprattus sprattus are common prey items for cod larger than 30 cm. Parasitological investigations (microscopic and molecular analyses) of H. sarsi (100 specimens) and S. entomon (40 specimens) did not reveal infection in these invertebrates, but 11.6% of sprat (265 specimens examined) was shown to be infected with 1-8 C. osculatum third stage larvae per fish. Analyses of sprat stomach contents confirmed that copepods and cladocerans are the main food items of sprat. These observations suggest that the C. osculatum life cycle in the Baltic Sea includes grey seals as final hosts, sprat as the first transport host and cod as second transport host. It may be speculated that sprat obtain infection by feeding on copepods and/or cladocerans, which could serve as the first intermediate hosts. One cannot exclude the possibility that the size-dependent C. osculatum infection of cod may contribute (indirectly or directly) to the differential mortality of larger cod (>38 cm) compared to smaller cod (<30 cm) recently recorded in the Baltic cod population.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida Infections; Ascaridoidea; Body Size; Feeding Behavior; Fish Diseases; Gadus morhua
PubMed: 27304871
DOI: 10.3354/dao03002 -
Revista Do Instituto de Medicina... Dec 2015Anisakiasis and Pseudoterranovosis are human diseases caused by the ingestion of live Anisakidae larvae in raw, undercooked or lightly marinated fish. Larvae were...
Anisakiasis and Pseudoterranovosis are human diseases caused by the ingestion of live Anisakidae larvae in raw, undercooked or lightly marinated fish. Larvae were collected from one salted cod sold for human consumption in a Sao Paulo market in 2013. One section of one brownish larva was used for molecular analyses. The partial COX2 gene sequence from the larva had a nucleotide identity of 99.8 % with Pseudoterranova azarasi, which belongs to the Pseudoterranova decipiens species complex. The risk of allergy when consuming dead larvae in salted fish is not well known and should be considered.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridoidea; Brazil; Cyclooxygenase 2; Food Safety; Gadiformes; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Larva; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Phylogeny; Raw Foods
PubMed: 27049712
DOI: 10.1590/S0036-46652015000600015