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Parasites & Vectors Nov 2022Parasitic nematodes, including large roundworms colloquially known as ascarids, affect the health and well-being of livestock animals worldwide. The equine ascarids,...
BACKGROUND
Parasitic nematodes, including large roundworms colloquially known as ascarids, affect the health and well-being of livestock animals worldwide. The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are important parasites of juvenile horses and the first ascarids to develop widespread anthelmintic resistance. The microbiota has been shown to be an important factor in the fitness of many organisms, including parasitic nematodes, where endosymbiotic Wolbachia have been exploited for treatment of filariasis in humans.
METHODS
This study used short-read 16S rRNA sequences and Illumina sequencing to characterize and compare microbiota of whole worm small intestinal stages and microbiota of male and female intestines and gonads. Diversity metrics including alpha and beta diversity, and the differential abundance analyses DESeq2, ANCOM-BC, corncob, and metagenomeSeq were used for comparisons.
RESULTS
Alpha and beta diversity of whole worm microbiota did not differ significantly between groups, but Simpson alpha diversity was significantly different between female intestine (FI) and male gonad (MG) (P= 0.0018), and Shannon alpha diversity was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0130), FI and horse jejunum (HJ) (P = 0.0383), and FI and MG (P= 0.0001). Beta diversity (Fig. 2B) was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0006), male intestine (MI) and FG (P = 0.0093), and MG and FI (P = 0.0041). When comparing organs, Veillonella was differentially abundant for DESeq2 and ANCOM-BC (p < 0.0001), corncob (P = 0.0008), and metagenomeSeq (P = 0.0118), and Sarcina was differentially abundant across four methods (P < 0.0001). Finally, the microbiota of all individual Parascaris spp. specimens were compared to establish shared microbiota between groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this study provided important information regarding the Parascaris spp. microbiota and provides a first step towards determining whether the microbiota may be a viable target for future parasite control options.
Topics: Humans; Horses; Animals; Female; Male; Ascaridoidea; Ascaridida Infections; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Horse Diseases; Microbiota; Feces
PubMed: 36333754
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-y -
Genes Jul 2020Advancements in technologies employed in high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are supporting the spread of studies that, combined with advances in... (Review)
Review
Advancements in technologies employed in high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are supporting the spread of studies that, combined with advances in computational biology and bioinformatics, have greatly accelerated discoveries within basic and biomedical research for many parasitic diseases. Here, we review the most updated "omic" studies performed on anisakid nematodes, a family of marine parasites that are causative agents of the fish-borne zoonosis known as anisakiasis or anisakidosis. Few deposited data on genomes are so far available, and this still hinders the deep and highly accurate characterization of biological aspects of interest, even as several transcriptomic and proteomic studies are becoming available. These have been aimed at discovering and characterizing molecules specific to peculiar developmental parasitic stages or tissues, as well as transcripts with pathogenic potential as toxins and allergens, with a broad relevance for a better understanding of host-pathogen relationships and for the development of reliable diagnostic tools.
Topics: Animals; Anisakiasis; Anisakis; Genomics; Proteome; Transcriptome
PubMed: 32679891
DOI: 10.3390/genes11070801 -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2012Since the original description and naming of Ascaris lumbricoides from humans by Linnaeus in 1758 and later of Ascaris suum from pigs by Goeze 1782, these species have... (Review)
Review
Since the original description and naming of Ascaris lumbricoides from humans by Linnaeus in 1758 and later of Ascaris suum from pigs by Goeze 1782, these species have been considered to be valid. Four hypotheses relative to the conspecificity or lack thereof (and thus origin of these species) are possible: 1) Ascaris lumbricoides (usually infecting humans) and Ascaris suum (recorded mostly from pigs) are both valid species, with the two species originating via a speciation event from a common ancestor sometime before the domestication of pigs by humans, or 2) Ascaris lumbricoides in humans is derived directly from the species A. suum found in pigs with A. suum then existing as a persistent ancestor after formation of A. lumbricoides, or 3) Ascaris suum is derived directly from A. lumbricoides with the persistent ancestor being A. lumbricoides and A. suum being the newly derived species, and finally, 4) Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are the same species, this hypothesis being supported by studies showing both low morphological and low genetic divergence at several genes. We present and discuss paleoparasitological and genetic evidence that complement new data to evaluate the origin and evolution of Ascaris spp. in humans and pigs, and the uniqueness of the species in both hosts. Finally, we conclude that Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are a single species and that the name A. lumbricoides Linnaeus 1758 has taxonomic priority; therefore A. suum Goeze 1782 should be considered a synonym of A. lumbricoides.
Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Ascaris lumbricoides; Ascaris suum; Biological Evolution; Genetic Speciation; Humans; Swine; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 22348306
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-42 -
Parasitology Sep 2022is a helminth parasite of marsupials and has a wide geographic distribution from Mexico to Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic population...
Population genetic structure and morphological diversity of (Nematoda: Ascaridida), a parasite of marsupials (Didelphinae), along the Atlantic Forest on the eastern coast of South America.
is a helminth parasite of marsupials and has a wide geographic distribution from Mexico to Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic population structure of this nematode along the Atlantic Forest biome. specimens were recovered from , and in 9 localities. Morphological and morphometric data were investigated for phenotypic diversity among localities and hosts using multivariate discriminant analysis of principal components. Phylogenetic relationships of were determined using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The population structure was analysed by fixation indices, molecular variance analysis, Tajima's and Fu's s neutrality tests, Mantel tests and Bayesian clustering analysis. A higher significant morphometric difference for males was observed between localities. In the haplogroup networks, 2 groups were recovered, separating locations from the north and from the south/southeast. The morphometric variation in . between different localities was compatible with this north and southeast/south pattern, suggesting adaptation to different ecological conditions. Population genetic analyses suggested a pattern of evolutionary processes driven by Pleistocene glacial refugia in the northeast and southeast of the Atlantic Forest based on the distribution of genetic diversity.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridida; Bayes Theorem; Didelphis; Forests; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Male; Marsupialia; Nematoda; Parasites; Phylogeny; South America
PubMed: 35929484
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022000981 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022The most frequent intestinal helminth infections in humans are attributed to Ascaris lumbricoides, and there are concerns over the anthelminthic resistance of this...
The most frequent intestinal helminth infections in humans are attributed to Ascaris lumbricoides, and there are concerns over the anthelminthic resistance of this species. The gut microbiota has essential roles in host physiology. Therefore, discovering host-parasite-microbiota interactions could help develop alternative helminthiasis treatments. Additionally, these interactions are modulated by functional metabolites that can reveal the mechanisms of infection and disease progression. Thus, we aimed to investigate bacteriomes in the gut of helminths and fecal samples of patients via next-generation sequencing. Our results showed that infection intensity was associated with the bacterial composition of helminth guts but not with the intestinal bacteriome of human hosts. Moreover, the metabolomes of A. lumbricoides in the heavy and light ascariasis cases were characterized using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Increased levels of essential biomolecules, such as amino acids, lipids, and nucleotide precursors, were found in the guts of helminths isolated from heavily infected patients, implying that these metabolites are related to egg production and ascariasis pathogenicity. These findings are the first step towards a more complete understanding of the mechanisms by which the bacteriome of helminth guts affect their colonization and may reveal novel and more effective approaches to parasitic disease therapy.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Ascaris lumbricoides; Ascariasis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Feces; Metabolome
PubMed: 36376367
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23608-9 -
Archives of Razi Institute Jul 2021The present study investigated the fine structure of amphids and phasmids, cuticle, muscles, and digestive tracts of Toxocara canis using optical and electron...
The present study investigated the fine structure of amphids and phasmids, cuticle, muscles, and digestive tracts of Toxocara canis using optical and electron microscopy, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and other specific stains. A number of 38 adult T.canis worms were obtained from the animal shelter of Urmia, and their small intestines were fixated in acidified formal alcohol and 10% formalin solutions. The anterior and posterior parts of male and female T.canis worms were prepared and cut at a thickness of 4-5 μm according to the conventional method in the histological laboratory. The samples were then stained using H&E and specific periodic acid-Schiff, Masson's trichrome, and Orcein staining. The structure of amphid (anterior), phasmid (posterior), cuticle, muscles, and digestive tracts of male and female worms were studied under light microscopy. Basal, intermediate, cortex, and cuticle surface coating of the parasite were visible. Alae were also observed as the thickenings in the cuticle. The muscle layer structure consists of non-branched cylindrical cells. The intestinal tract is composed of cuticular cogs, the esophagus is of filamentous-muscular structure, and the intestine is made of columnar epithelial tissue with microvilli and glycocalyx. The amphid structure consisted of cuticular protrusions with penetrations of the cephalic framework into their inner layers. Phasmid structure also includes protrusions in the cuticle and invagination of sensory neurons. It was concluded that for the most part, the histological structure of the cuticle can be studied by optical microscopy. The muscle structure in this parasite was very similar to the skeletal muscle in mammals. Furthermore, the epithelial structure of the intestine in this parasite was largely similar to the intestinal epithelium in mammals. Finally, regarding the amphid and phasmid structures, it was observed that they were protrusions covered by cuticles where neural, filamentous, and muscular structures were the core of these protrusions.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Mechanoreceptors; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Toxocara canis
PubMed: 34223730
DOI: 10.22092/ari.2020.342252.1457 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Nov 2023Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the... (Review)
Review
Toosendanin (TSN), extracted from Melia. toosendan Sieb.et Zucc. and Melia. azedarach L., has been developed into an ascaris repellent in China. However, with the improvement of public health protection, the incidence of ascariasis has been reduced considerably, resulting in limited medical application of TSN. Therefore, it is questionable whether this old ascaris repellent can develop into a drug candidate. Modern studies have shown that TSN has strong pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-botulinum, anti-viral and anti-parasitic potentials. It also can regulate fat formation and improve inflammation. These researches indicate that TSN has great potential to be developed into a corresponding medical product. In order to better development and application of TSN, the availability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of TSN are summarized systematically. In addition, this review discusses shortcomings in the current researches and provides useful suggestions about how TSN developed into a drug candidate. Therefore, this paper illustrates the possibility of developing TSN as a medical product, aimed to provide directions for the clinical application and further research of TSN.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ascaris; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Neoplasms; China
PubMed: 37738795
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115541 -
Poultry Science Aug 2022Free-range chickens are predisposed to diverse parasitic infections during scavenging. Accurate identification of these parasites using morphological characters has been...
Molecular identification of helminth parasites of the Heterakidae and Ascarididae families of free-ranging chickens from selected rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
Free-range chickens are predisposed to diverse parasitic infections during scavenging. Accurate identification of these parasites using morphological characters has been a challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to identify nematodes from the Heterakidae and Ascarididae family infecting free-ranging chickens from KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa using a combination of morphological and molecular techniques. Forty-two free-ranging adult indigenous chickens were purchased from randomly selected households in Shongweni (n=12), Umzinto (n=10), Gingindlovu (n=10) and Ozwathini (n=10) rural villages and examined for nematodes of the Heterakidae and Ascarididae family. Collected specimen were identified morphologically and confirmed using mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal markers. Results showed that Ascaridia galli was common, occurring at all sampling locations with an overall prevalence of 58.3%, while Heterakis gallinarum and H. beramporia occurred in three locations. Ascaridia galli had high prevalence in Shongweni (58.3%), followed by Gingindlovu (40%), Ozwathini (20%) and Umzinto (10%). Heterakis gallinarum infection was prevalent in three locations, with an overall prevalence of 90% in Gingindlovu, 80% in Ozwathini and 58.3 % in Shongweni. Heterakis gallinarum and H. beramporia were not recorded in Umzinto. Heterakis beramporia was recorded in low prevalence in Gingindlovu (20%), Ozwathini (10%) and Shongweni (8.3%) villages. Mixed infections of A. galli and H. gallinarum were recorded in Gingindlovu, Ozwathini and Shongweni, and H. gallinarum and H. beramporia in Gingindlovu. Molecular analysis confirmed identification of A. galli, and further showed close relationship with the GenBank-derived South African isolates. Haplotype network further confirmed their ancestral history, where all South African A. galli isolates formed five novel haplotypes corresponding with the structure of the phylogenetic tree. Similar structure was observed with Heterakis isolates, where analysis of the cox1 gene showed that H. gallinarum formed a well-supported monophyletic clade with other Heterakis species. The ITS marker identified three specimens from Gingindlovu, Ozwathini and Shongweni as H. beramporia, which formed strongly supported sister clade to H. indica and this is the first report confirming the occurrence of H. beramporia in South Africa.
Topics: Animals; Ascaridia; Chickens; Helminths; Parasites; Phylogeny; Poultry Diseases; Rural Population; South Africa
PubMed: 35797782
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101979 -
International Archives of Allergy and... 2014
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Anisakis; Humans
PubMed: 24603096
DOI: 10.1159/000360361 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2018To gain further insight on the association between human toxocariasis and epilepsy in light of the new evidence in the last years. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To gain further insight on the association between human toxocariasis and epilepsy in light of the new evidence in the last years.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted without date and language restriction in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Ingenta Connect, Science Direct (Elsevier), RefDoc, Scopus, HighWire, Scielo and the database of the Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology of the Limoges University (IENT). Two investigators independently conducted the search up to November 2017. A pooled odds ratio (OR) was estimated using a random effects model. Meta-regression was conducted to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Database search produced 204 publications. Eleven case-control studies were included that were carried out in 13 countries worldwide. A total number of 4740 subjects were considered (2159 people with epilepsy and 2581 people without epilepsy). The overall pooled OR was 1.69 (95% CI 1.42-2.01) for the association between epilepsy and Toxocara spp. seropositivity. A positive association was constantly reported in the restricted analysis (WB as confirmatory or diagnostic test, younger population, and population-based studies). Meta-regression showed no statistically significant association between covariates and outcome.
CONCLUSION
The updated meta-analysis provides epidemiological evidence of a positive association between Toxocara seropositivity and epilepsy. New surveys supported the association, mainly population-based studies. On this basis, health strategies to reduce the impact of Toxocara spp are strongly advised. Further research should be performed to understand the physiopathological mechanisms of toxocara-associated epileptogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Epilepsy; Humans; Toxocara; Toxocariasis
PubMed: 30028858
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006665