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Willoughby O, Karrow NA, Marques Freire Cunha S, Asselstine V, Mallard BA, Cánovas Á. Characterization of the Hepatic Transcriptome for Divergent Immune-Responding Sheep Following Natural Exposure to Gastrointestinal Nematodes. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:713. [PMID: 38927648 PMCID: PMC11202434 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) reduce the economic efficiency of sheep operations and compromise animal welfare. Understanding the host's response to GIN infection can help producers identify animals that are naturally resistant to infection. The objective of this study was to characterize the hepatic transcriptome of sheep that had been naturally exposed to GIN parasites. The hepatic transcriptome was studied using RNA-Sequencing technology in animals characterized as high (n = 5) or medium (n = 6) based on their innate immune acute-phase (AP) response phenotype compared with uninfected controls (n = 4), and with biased antibody-mediated (AbMR, n = 5) or cell-mediated (CMR, n = 5) adaptive immune responsiveness compared to uninfected controls (n = 3). Following the assessment of sheep selected for innate responses, 0, 136, and 167 genes were differentially expressed (DE) between high- and medium-responding animals, high-responding and uninfected control animals, and medium-responding and uninfected control animals, respectively (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05, and fold change |FC| > 2). When adaptive immune responses were assessed, 0, 53, and 57 genes were DE between antibody- and cell-biased animals, antibody-biased and uninfected control animals, and cell-biased and uninfected control animals, respectively (FDR < 0.05, |FC| > 2). Functional analyses identified enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and metabolic pathways related to the innate immune response and energy metabolism. Six functional candidate genes were identified for further functional and validation studies to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of host responses to GINs. These, in turn, can potentially help improve decision making and management practices to increase the overall host immune response to GIN infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Willoughby
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (O.W.); (N.A.K.); (S.M.F.C.); (V.A.)
| | - Niel A. Karrow
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (O.W.); (N.A.K.); (S.M.F.C.); (V.A.)
| | - Samla Marques Freire Cunha
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (O.W.); (N.A.K.); (S.M.F.C.); (V.A.)
| | - Victoria Asselstine
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (O.W.); (N.A.K.); (S.M.F.C.); (V.A.)
| | - Bonnie A. Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Ángela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (O.W.); (N.A.K.); (S.M.F.C.); (V.A.)
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2
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Ortega L, Quesada J, Ruiz A, Conde-Felipe MM, Ferrer O, Muñoz MDC, Molina JA, Rodríguez F, Molina JM. Analysis of Protection and Immune Response against Teladorsagia circumcincta in Goats Immunised with Thiol-Binding Proteins from Adult Worms. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:437. [PMID: 38675819 PMCID: PMC11055008 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In view of the increasing occurrence of anthelmintic-resistant strains of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants, various alternative control strategies have been investigated, such as those based on the induction of protective immune responses by immunisation with parasite antigens. In this study, the protective activity of somatic antigens from adult worms of Teladorsagia circumcincta purified by affinity chromatography on thiol-sepharose was analysed in goats. After challenge, the enriched products induced a slight reduction in the cumulative faecal egg counts (21%) and in the number of worms (23.3%), with a greater effect on female worms, which also showed a reduction in parameters related to their fertility. These parasitological findings were associated with a Th2 immune response, with a prominent local humoral response and an eosinophilic infiltrate in the gastric mucosa (negatively associated with the fertility of female worms and the number of worms, respectively), as well as an infiltration of MCHII+, CD4+, IgG+ and IgA+ cells. However, several analyses showed an increase in CD8+ cells in the mucosa, as well as IL-2 expression in the gastric lymph nodes, which may have been associated with inhibition of protective responses or with the development of mixed Th1/Th2 responses, a finding that should be analysed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Ortega
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Jessica Quesada
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Antonio Ruiz
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Magnolia María Conde-Felipe
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Otilia Ferrer
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
- Clinical Veterinary Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - María del Carmen Muñoz
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
- Clinical Veterinary Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - José Adrián Molina
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Francisco Rodríguez
- Department of Anatomy and Compared Anatomy Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain;
| | - José Manuel Molina
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain; (L.O.); (J.Q.); (O.F.); (M.d.C.M.); (J.A.M.); (J.M.M.)
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Pacheco A, Conington J, Corripio-Miyar Y, Frew D, Banos G, McNeilly TN. Genetic profile of adaptive immune traits and relationships with parasite resistance and productivity in Scottish Blackface sheep. Animal 2024; 18:101061. [PMID: 38232660 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites cause significant production losses in grazing ruminants which can be mitigated by breeding animals resistant to disease. Lymphocyte cytokine production and parasite-specific Immunoglobulin A (IgA) are adaptive immune traits associated with immunity to GI parasites. To explore the utility of these traits for selective breeding purposes, this study estimated the genetic parameters of the immune traits in sheep and assessed their relationship with disease and productivity traits. Whole blood stimulation assays were performed on 1 040 Scottish Blackface lambs at two months of age in 2016-2017. Blood was stimulated with either pokeweed mitogen (PWM), a non-specific activator of lymphocytes, and Teladorsagia circumcincta (T-ci) larval antigen to activate parasite-specific T lymphocytes. The type of adaptive immune response was determined by quantifying production of cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10, which relate to T-helper type (Th) 1, Th2 and regulatory T cell responses, respectively. Serum T-ci specific IgA was also quantified. Heritabilities were estimated for each immune trait by univariate analyses. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated between different immune traits, and between immune traits vs. disease and productivity traits that were recorded at three months of age. Disease phenotypes were expressed as faecal egg counts (FEC) of nematode parasites (Strongyles and Nematodirus), faecal oocyst counts (FOC) of coccidian parasites, and faecal soiling score; production was measured as lamb live weight. Significant genetic variation was observed in all immune response traits. Heritabilities of cytokine production varied from low (0.14 ± 0.06) to very high (0.77 ± 0.09) and were always significantly greater than zero (P < 0.05). IgA heritability was found to be moderate (0.41 ± 0.09). Negative associations previously identified between IFN-γ production and FOC, and IL-4 production and strongyle FEC, were not evident in this study, potentially due to the time-lag between immune and parasitology measures. Instead, a positive genetic correlation was found between FOC and PWM-induced IFN-γ production, while a negative genetic correlation was found between FOC and T-ci induced IL-10. Live weight was negatively genetically correlated with IFN-γ responses. Overall, IFN-γ and IL-4 responses were positively correlated, providing little evidence of cross-regulation of Th1 and Th2 immunity within individual sheep. Furthermore, T-ci specific IgA was highly positively correlated with PWM-induced IL-10, indicating a possible role for this cytokine in IgA production. Our results suggest that while genetic selection for adaptive immune response traits is possible and may be beneficial for parasite control, selection of high IFN-γ responsiveness may negatively affect productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pacheco
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - J Conington
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Y Corripio-Miyar
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - D Frew
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - G Banos
- Scotland's Rural College, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - T N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
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Palkumbura PGAS, Mahakapuge TAN, Wijesundera RRMKK, Wijewardana V, Kangethe RT, Rajapakse RPVJ. Mucosal Immunity of Major Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Small Ruminants Can Be Harnessed to Develop New Prevention Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1409. [PMID: 38338687 PMCID: PMC10855138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal parasitic nematode (GIN) infections are the cause of severe losses to farmers in countries where small ruminants such as sheep and goat are the mainstay of livestock holdings. There is a need to develop effective and easy-to-administer anti-parasite vaccines in areas where anthelmintic resistance is rapidly rising due to the inefficient use of drugs currently available. In this review, we describe the most prevalent and economically significant group of GIN infections that infect small ruminants and the immune responses that occur in the host during infection with an emphasis on mucosal immunity. Furthermore, we outline the different prevention strategies that exist with a focus on whole and purified native parasite antigens as vaccine candidates and their possible oral-nasal administration as a part of an integrated parasite control toolbox in areas where drug resistance is on the rise.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. G. Ashani S. Palkumbura
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Kandy 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - Thilini A. N. Mahakapuge
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Kandy 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - R. R. M. K. Kavindra Wijesundera
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Kandy 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - Viskam Wijewardana
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Richard Thiga Kangethe
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - R. P. V. Jayanthe Rajapakse
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Kandy 20400, Sri Lanka
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Castilla Gómez de Agüero V, Valderas-García E, González Del Palacio L, Giráldez FJ, Balaña-Fouce R, Martínez-Valladares M. Secretory IgA as Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Nematodes Natural Infection in Different Breed Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2189. [PMID: 37443987 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific IgA antibody has been shown to play an important role in resistance to gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in sheep, particularly in Teladorsagia circumcincta parasitosis. In some breeds, negative associations have been shown between IgA levels and worm burden in experimentally infected sheep. In the present study, we have studied the relationship between IgA levels in naturally infected sheep (582 ewes in total; 193 younger than one year old and 389 older than one year old) and fecal egg count (FEC) in the Assaf, Castellana, and Churra breeds. ELISA assays were performed to measure IgA levels against the somatic antigen of T. circumcincta third larval stage (L3) and a 203-amino-acid fragment of the protein disulfide isomerase from the same GIN species. A multilevel random intercept model was developed to predict the infection risk according to age or breed. Spearman's correlation rank was used for statistical analysis. The prediction model showed that breed was not an influential factor in this study, although the Assaf breed could be considered slightly more susceptible than the others. In addition, age affected the infection risk, with the young ewes more susceptible to infection than the adult groups, except for the Castellana breed, whose risk of infection was similar at all ages. The most significant positive association was found between FEC and IgA measured in the nasal secretions of young ewes using both antigens (Rho = 0.5; p = 0.00); the correlation of FEC with IgA in serum was moderately significant (Rho = 0.306; p = 0.00). Comparing both antigens, the protein disulfide isomerase antigen was less reactive than the somatic antigen from L3. In conclusion, under natural conditions, specific IgA against GIN was positively associated with FEC in sheep, with nasal secretions from young animals being the sample where this association is stronger, which, therefore, could be used as a marker of infection in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Castilla Gómez de Agüero
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346 Grulleros, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain
| | - Elora Valderas-García
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346 Grulleros, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain
| | - Laura González Del Palacio
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346 Grulleros, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain
| | - F Javier Giráldez
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346 Grulleros, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, 24346 Grulleros, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain
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Utaaker KS, Ytrehus B, Davey ML, Fossøy F, Davidson RK, Miller AL, Robertsen PA, Strand O, Rauset GR. Parasite Spillover from Domestic Sheep to Wild Reindeer-The Role of Salt Licks. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020186. [PMID: 36839459 PMCID: PMC9959430 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Attraction sites are important for environmental pathogen transmission and spillover. Yet, their role in wildlife disease dynamics is often poorly substantiated. Herein, we study the role of salt licks as potential attraction sites for the spillover of gastrointestinal parasites from domestic sheep to wild reindeer. Eggs from the introduced sheep nematode Nematodirus battus were found in faecal samples of both species, suggestive of spillover. DNA metabarcoding of soil, collected at salt licks, revealed that N. battus, in addition to Teladorsagia circumcincta, were the most frequently occurring parasitic nematodes, with a significantly higher prevalence of nematodal DNA in salt lick soil compared to soil from control sites nearby. The finding of similar DNA haplotypes of N. battus in sheep, reindeer, and salt lick soil supports the hypothesis of spillover to reindeer via salt licks. More detailed investigation of the genetic diversity of N. battus across these hosts is needed to draw firm conclusions. Infection with these sheep nematodes could potentially explain a recently observed decline in the calf recruitment rate of the Knutshø reindeer herd. This study also supports the hypothesized role of artificial salt licks as hot spots for the transmission of environmentally persistent pathogens and illustrates the importance of knowledge about such attraction points in the study of disease in free-roaming animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway
- Correspondence:
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie L. Davey
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Frode Fossøy
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Andrea L. Miller
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Per-Anders Robertsen
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Olav Strand
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Rune Rauset
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
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Dixon S, Karrow NA, Borkowski E, Suarez-Vega A, Menzies PI, Kennedy D, Peregrine AS, Mallard BA, Cánovas Á. Identifying hepatic genes regulating the ovine response to gastrointestinal nematodes using RNA-Sequencing. Front Genet 2023; 14:1111426. [PMID: 36873933 PMCID: PMC9981634 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1111426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections are considered the most important disease of grazing sheep and due to increasing anthelmintic resistance, chemical control alone is inadequate. Resistance to Gastrointestinal nematode infection is a heritable trait, and through natural selection many sheep breeds have higher resistance. Studying the transcriptome from GIN-exposed and GIN-unexposed sheep using RNA-Sequencing technology can provide measurements of transcript levels associated with the host response to Gastrointestinal nematode infection, and these transcripts may harbor genetic markers that can be used in selective breeding programs to enhance disease resistance. The objective of this study was to compare liver transcriptomes of sheep naturally exposed to Gastrointestinal nematode s, with either high or low parasite burdens, to GIN-unexposed control sheep in order to identify key regulator genes and biological processes associated with Gastrointestinal nematode infection. Differential gene expression analysis revealed no significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) between sheep with a high or low parasite burden (p-value ≤0.01; False Discovery Rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05; and Fold-Change (FC) of > ±2). However, when compared to the control group, low parasite burden sheep showed 146 differentially expressed genes (64 upregulated and 82 downregulated in the low parasite burden group relative to the control), and high parasite burden sheep showed 159 differentially expressed genes (57 upregulated and 102 downregulated in the low parasite burden group relative to the control) (p-value ≤0.01; FDR ≤0.05; and FC of > ±2). Among these two lists of significant differentially expressed genes, 86 differentially expressed genes (34 upregulated, 52 downregulated in the parasited group relative to the control) were found in common between the two parasite burden groups compared to the control (GIN-unexposed sheep). Functional analysis of these significant 86 differentially expressed genes found upregulated genes involved in immune response and downregulated genes involved in lipid metabolism. Results of this study offer insight into the liver transcriptome during natural Gastrointestinal nematode exposure that helps provide a better understanding of the key regulator genes involved in Gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Dixon
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Niel A Karrow
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Borkowski
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Aroa Suarez-Vega
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Paula I Menzies
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Delma Kennedy
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew S Peregrine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ángela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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8
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Variability in the Response against Teladorsagia circumcincta in Lambs of Two Canarian Sheep Breeds. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010029. [PMID: 36613497 PMCID: PMC9820046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing resistance to anthelmintics has necessitated the exploration of alternative control strategies of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections. A sustainable option is genetic selection based on differences in susceptibility to GIN infection between and within breeds of sheep. Here, three-month-old Canaria Hair breed (GIN-resistant) and Canaria Sheep breed (GIN-susceptible) showed no significant between-breed differences after trickle infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta, whereas considerable individual variability was found in both breeds. Next, data from lambs of both breeds were used to explore the relationships between parasitological variables and T. circumcincta-specific IgA levels, local immune cell populations, and abomasal lymph node gene expression to understand the possible mechanisms underlying resistance. Mucosal IgA levels as well as numbers of globular leukocytes and MHC-II+ cells were associated with protection. Analysis of lymph node gene expression revealed the associations between lower parasite numbers and cumulative fecal egg counts and several immune pathways, such as leukocyte cell adhesion, activation and differentiation of T cells, in particular CD4+ and IL-4 production. The data obtained here may inform on the relationship between phenotypic resistance variability and protective responses at the humoral, cellular, and transcriptomic levels, thus contributing to identifying immune responses in young lambs that could be used as markers for selection.
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9
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Hayward AD. Genetic parameters for resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep: a meta-analysis. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:843-853. [PMID: 36244427 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are damaging parasites of global sheep populations. The key weapons in fighting GINs have been anthelmintic drugs, but the emergence of drug-resistant parasites has meant that alternative control methods are needed. One of these alternatives is to breed for enhanced host resistance to GINs, and decades of research have estimated the genetic contribution to different measures of resistance to GINs and their genetic correlations with other desirable performance traits. It is clear that parasite resistance is a heritable trait that can be selected for. Despite this consensus, estimates of both heritability of resistance and genetic correlations with other traits vary widely between studies, and the reasons for this variation have not been examined. This study provides a comprehensive and quantitative meta-analysis of genetic parameters for resistance to GINs in sheep, including measures of worm burden (faecal egg counts, FECs), anti-parasite immunity (GIN-specific antibodies), and parasite-induced pathology (FAMACHA© scores). Analysis of 591 heritability estimates from 121 studies revealed a global heritability estimate for resistance to GINs of 0.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.22-0.27) that was stable across breeds, ages, geographical location and analytical methods. Meanwhile, analysis of 559 genetic correlations from 54 studies revealed that resistance to GINs overall has a positive genetic correlation of +0.10 (95% CI = 0.02-0.19) with performance traits, and that this was consistent across breeds, ages, sexes and analytical methods. Importantly, the direction of the genetic correlation varied with the resistance trait measured: while FECs and FAMACHA© scores were favourably correlated with performance traits, adaptive immune markers were unfavourably correlated, suggesting that selection for enhanced immune responses to GINs could reduce animal performance. Overall, the results suggest that breeding for resistance to GINs should continue to form part of integrated management programs to reduce the impact of parasites on health and performance, but that selection for enhanced immune responses should be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Hayward
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK.
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10
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Bilbao-Arribas M, Jugo BM. Transcriptomic meta-analysis reveals unannotated long non-coding RNAs related to the immune response in sheep. Front Genet 2022; 13:1067350. [PMID: 36482891 PMCID: PMC9725098 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1067350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in several biological processes, including the immune system response to pathogens and vaccines. The annotation and functional characterization of lncRNAs is more advanced in humans than in livestock species. Here, we take advantage of the increasing number of high-throughput functional experiments deposited in public databases in order to uniformly analyse, profile unannotated lncRNAs and integrate 422 ovine RNA-seq samples from the ovine immune system. We identified 12302 unannotated lncRNA genes with support from independent CAGE-seq and histone modification ChIP-seq assays. Unannotated lncRNAs showed low expression levels and sequence conservation across other mammal species. There were differences in expression levels depending on the genomic location-based lncRNA classification. Differential expression analyses between unstimulated and samples stimulated with pathogen infection or vaccination resulted in hundreds of lncRNAs with changed expression. Gene co-expression analyses revealed immune gene-enriched clusters associated with immune system activation and related to interferon signalling, antiviral response or endoplasmic reticulum stress. Besides, differential co-expression networks were constructed in order to find condition-specific relationships between coding genes and lncRNAs. Overall, using a diverse set of immune system samples and bioinformatic approaches we identify several ovine lncRNAs associated with the response to an external stimulus. These findings help in the improvement of the ovine lncRNA catalogue and provide sheep-specific evidence for the implication in the general immune response for several lncRNAs.
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11
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Aboshady HM, Félicité Y, Hira J, Barbier C, Bambou JC. Early Transcriptome Differences Between Pre-Infected and Naïve Kid Goats Infected With Haemonchus contortus. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:873467. [PMID: 35873680 PMCID: PMC9305704 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.873467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In small ruminant production, gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection is one of the major causes of economic losses. The aim of this study was to compare the abomasal mucosa transcriptome of naïve and pre-infected goats at early time points after Haemonchus contortus infection, in order to identify different pathways and upstream regulators involved in the host immune response. Naïve and pre-infected Creole kids were orally infected with 10,000 H. contortus infective larvae (L3), and abomasal mucosa was sampled at 0, 4, and 6 days post-infection (dpi). At 6 dpi, all the animals were slaughtered to perform parasite burden counts. The mean number of L4 recovered in naïve kids was more than twice as high as that recovered in the pre-infected ones (5,860 and 2,474 respectively, p < 0.001). RNA-seq analysis showed a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) very low for both naïve and pre-infected animals when comparing day 0 vs. day 4 post-infection. A total of 2,237 and 3,206 DEGs were identified comparing 0 vs. 6 dpi in naïve and pre-infected animals, respectively. Interestingly, only 18 DEGs were found for the comparison of pre-infected vs. naïve animals at 6 dpi. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) showed that several immune responses were activated in pre-infected compared with naïve animals at 0 and 4 dpi such as Th2 and Th1 pathways, natural killer cell, B cell receptor, IL-2, and IL-15 signaling. On the other hand, both naïve and pre-infected animals showed activation for those pathways comparing 6 vs. 0 dpi, with no difference between them. A similar pattern was recorded for upstream regulator genes which were related to immunity like TNF, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, TGFβ1, IFNγ, TCR, IL-18, IL-6, and IL-4. Our results showed that at 0 and 4 dpi the immune response was activated toward Th1 and Th2 pathways in pre-infected kids compared to the naïve ones, however, the same immune response was developed in naïve kids as earlier as 6 dpi. We conclude that repeated H. contortus infection in kid goats induced a concomitant early activation of a Th1 and Th2 immune response resulting in the regulation of worm establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeer M. Aboshady
- INRAE, ASSET, Petit-Bourg, France
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | - Claude Barbier
- INRAE, Plateforme Tropicale d'Expérimentation sur l'Animal, Petit-Bourg, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Bambou
- INRAE, ASSET, Petit-Bourg, France
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Jean-Christophe Bambou
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12
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Liu W, McNeilly TN, Mitchell M, Burgess STG, Nisbet AJ, Matthews JB, Babayan SA. Vaccine-induced time- and age-dependent mucosal immunity to gastrointestinal parasite infection. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:78. [PMID: 35798788 PMCID: PMC9262902 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00501-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals vary broadly in their response to vaccination and subsequent challenge infection, with poor vaccine responders causing persistence of both infection and transmission in populations. Yet despite having substantial economic and societal impact, the immune mechanisms that underlie such variability, especially in infected tissues, remain poorly understood. Here, to characterise how antihelminthic immunity at the mucosal site of infection developed in vaccinated lambs, we inserted gastric cannulae into the abomasa of three-month- and six-month-old lambs and longitudinally analysed their local immune response during subsequent challenge infection. The vaccine induced broad changes in pre-challenge abomasal immune profiles and reduced parasite burden and egg output post-challenge, regardless of age. However, age affected how vaccinated lambs responded to infection across multiple immune pathways: adaptive immune pathways were typically age-dependent. Identification of age-dependent and age-independent protective immune pathways may help refine the formulation of vaccines, and indicate specificities of pathogen-specific immunity more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK.
| | - Mairi Mitchell
- The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stewart T G Burgess
- The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Jacqueline B Matthews
- The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK.,Roslin Technologies Limited, Roslin Innovation Centre, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Scotland, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Simon A Babayan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK. .,The Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Scotland, EH26 0PZ, UK.
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13
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Differences in the protection elicited by a recombinant Teladorsagia circumcincta vaccine in weaned lambs of two Canarian sheep breeds. Vet Parasitol 2022; 306:109722. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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14
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Aliabadi J, Rakhshandehroo E, Yektaseresht A. Development and evaluation of an indirect ELISA for detection of Teladorsagia circumcincta infection in sheep. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:326. [PMID: 34641866 PMCID: PMC8510574 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The gastrointestinal helminth, Teladorsagia circumcincta, is one of the major health risks and production-limiting diseases in small ruminant populations, particularly in temperate regions. With the increasing importance of disease management and recruited anthelmintic resistant types, accurate approaches are needed for the diagnosis of the infection in the host. Due to uncertain results using faecal examinations, the ELISA method was indicated for the detection of nematode antigenic materials. Despite some promising results, problems were described in terms of test specificity and cross-reactions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the IgG response to worm somatic and excretory/secretory (ES) products using western blot analysis and an indirect ELISA for the detection of T. circumcincta infection in sheep. Results Based on the immuno-reactivity analysis, immunogenic fractions with molecular weights (MWs) of approximately 60, 75 and 100 kDa were detected in somatic content and two antigens of about 63 and 75 kDa in ES material. Accordingly, a specific product at 75 kDa had the strongest reaction and appeared as the most common antigenic protein. In ELISA, all the sera from the infected sheep revealed the OD rates above the calculated cut-off value with about two-fold greater average. Negative control samples were also specifically recognized with the mean OD rate of about 1/3 of the estimated cut-off value. The cross-reaction test, using rabbit anti-T. circumcincta IgG, did not show reactivity with the ES antigens of other prevalent nematodes including Haemonchus contortus, Protostrongylus rufescens and Marshallagia marshalli. In contrast, a strong positive reaction was observed with the somatic antigens of M. marshalli. Conclusions The results of this study indicated that the indirect ELISA method using the ES content enables distinguishing the T. circumcincta infected sheep with high specificity. Those antigenic ES peptides with 63 and particularly 75 kDa MWs should be further investigated due to the potential for serological diagnostic methods and immunoprotective targets in the host. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-03042-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalal Aliabadi
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 71441-69155, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Rakhshandehroo
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 71441-69155, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Azadeh Yektaseresht
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 71441-69155, Shiraz, Iran
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15
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Bonde CS, Bornancin L, Lu Y, Simonsen HT, Martínez-Valladares M, Peña-Espinoza M, Mejer H, Williams AR, Thamsborg SM. Bio-Guided Fractionation and Molecular Networking Reveal Fatty Acids to Be Principal Anti-Parasitic Compounds in Nordic Seaweeds. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:674520. [PMID: 34149425 PMCID: PMC8206555 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.674520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs has led to high levels of drug-resistance in pathogen populations and a need for novel sources of anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic compounds. Macroalgae (seaweed) are potentially a rich source of bioactive compounds, and several species have traditionally been used as vermifuges. Here, we investigated the anti-parasitic properties of four common cold-water Nordic seaweeds; Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta), Laminaria digitata, Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). Screening of organic extracts against helminths of swine (Ascaris suum) and sheep (Teladorsagia circumcincta) revealed that S. latissima and L. digitata had particularly high biological activity. A combination of molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation led to the isolation of six compounds from extracts of these two species identified in both fermented and non-fermented samples. The six isolated compounds were tentatively identified by using MS-FINDER as five fatty acids and one monoglyceride: Stearidonic acid (1), Eicosapentaenoic acid (2), Alpha-Linolenic acid (3), Docosahexaenoic acid (4), Arachidonic acid (5), and Monoacylglycerol (MG 20:5) (6). Individual compounds showed only modest activity against A. suum, but a clear synergistic effect was apparent when selected compounds were tested in combination. Collectively, our data reveal that fatty acids may have a previously unappreciated role as natural anti-parasitic compounds, which suggests that seaweed products may represent a viable option for control of intestinal helminth infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Smith Bonde
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Louis Bornancin
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik Toft Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Department of Animal Health, León, Spain
| | - Miguel Peña-Espinoza
- Instituto de Farmacologia y Morfofisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Helena Mejer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Andrew R Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Stig Milan Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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16
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Mravčáková D, Sobczak-Filipiak M, Váradyová Z, Kucková K, Čobanová K, Maršík P, Tauchen J, Vadlejch J, Mickiewicz M, Kaba J, Várady M. Effect of Artemisia absinthium and Malva sylvestris on Antioxidant Parameters and Abomasal Histopathology in Lambs Experimentally Infected with Haemonchus contortus. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020462. [PMID: 33572477 PMCID: PMC7916408 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of Artemisia absinthium and Malva sylvestris on antioxidant response and histopathological changes in the abomasa of the Haemonchus contortus infected lambs. Twenty-four lambs were divided into four groups: unsupplemented lambs (UNS), lambs supplemented with A. absinthium (ART), lambs supplemented with M. sylvestris (MAL), and lambs supplemented with both plants (ARTMAL). Lambs were infected orally with approximately 5000 third-stage (L3) larvae of H. contortus. The experiment was conducted for 75 d (days), all animals were then slaughtered; and the abomasal tissues were examined for antioxidant parameters and histopathology. The concentration of malondialdehyde in the abomasal mucosa was lower in ARTMAL (p < 0.05), and the total antioxidant capacity was higher in MAL (p < 0.05), than in UNS. Increased mucus production was observed in the ARTMAL. The number of mast cells in UNS and ART was significantly higher than the number in MAL (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Plasma cell numbers were higher in ARTMAL than the number in MAL (p < 0.05). Abomasal tissue regenerated more frequently in ARTMAL. These results represent the first report of the impact of A. absinthium and M. sylvestris on antioxidant parameters and local immune responses of abomasal mucosa of lambs infected with a GIN parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Mravčáková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; (Z.V.); (K.K.); (K.Č.)
- Correspondence: (D.M.); (M.V.); Tel.: +421-55-792-2972 (D.M.); +421-55-633-1411-13 (M.V.)
| | - Małgorzata Sobczak-Filipiak
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Zora Váradyová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; (Z.V.); (K.K.); (K.Č.)
| | - Katarína Kucková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; (Z.V.); (K.K.); (K.Č.)
| | - Klaudia Čobanová
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; (Z.V.); (K.K.); (K.Č.)
| | - Peter Maršík
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 165 02 Lysolaje, Czech Republic;
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 165 00 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic;
| | - Jan Tauchen
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 165 00 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic;
| | - Jaroslav Vadlejch
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 165 00 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic;
| | - Marcin Mickiewicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland; (M.M.); (J.K.)
| | - Jaroslaw Kaba
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland; (M.M.); (J.K.)
| | - Marián Várady
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
- Correspondence: (D.M.); (M.V.); Tel.: +421-55-792-2972 (D.M.); +421-55-633-1411-13 (M.V.)
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17
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Estrada-Reyes ZM, Rae DO, Mateescu RG. Genome-wide scan reveals important additive and non-additive genetic effects associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Florida Native sheep. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:535-543. [PMID: 33549580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Florida Native sheep is among the sheep breeds best adapted to humid and hot climatic conditions such as those of Florida, USA, and have shown a superior ability to regulate nematode burdens. This is one of the oldest sheep breeds in North America and is an endangered species. To ensure genetic diversity and long-term survival of the breed, protection of the current genetic stock is critical and conservation efforts are required to promote its breeding and production. The objective of the present study was to investigate the importance of additive and non-additive genetic effects on resistance to natural Haemonchus contortus infections in Florida Native sheep using a whole genome scan. A total of 200 sheep were evaluated in the present study. Phenotypic records included faecal egg count (FEC, eggs/gram), FAMACHA® score, packed cell volume (PCV, %), body condition score and average daily gain (ADG, kg). Sheep were genotyped using the GGP Ovine 50K SNP chip and 45.2 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers spanning the entire genome were available for quality control procedures. Mixed models were used to analyse the response variables and included the identity by state matrix to control for population structure. Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple testing and a second arbitrary threshold (0.1 × 10-3) was used. Fifteen SNPs with additive and non-additive genetic effects and located in Ovis aries chromosome OAR1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 21 were associated with FEC, FAMACHA® score, PCV and ADG. These SNPs could be potential genetic markers for resistance to natural H. contortus exposure in Florida Native sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira M Estrada-Reyes
- College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 31030, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - D Owen Rae
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raluca G Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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18
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Immunoglobulins as Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal Nematodes Resistance in Small Ruminants: A systematic review. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7765. [PMID: 32385321 PMCID: PMC7210940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64775-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of anthelmintic resistance worldwide has led to the development of alternative control strategies for gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infections, which are one of the main constraints on the health of grazing small ruminants. Presently, breeding schemes rely mainly on fecal egg count (FEC) measurements on infected animals which are time-consuming and requires expertise in parasitology. Identifying and understanding the role of immunoglobulins in the mechanisms of resistance could provide a more efficient and sustainable method of identifying nematode-resistant animals for selection. In this study we review the findings on immunoglobulin response to GIN in the literature published to date (june 2019) and discuss the potential to use immunoglobulins as biomarkers. The literature review revealed 41 studies which measured at least one immunoglobulin: 35 focused on lamb immune response (18 used non-naïve lambs) and 7 on yearlings. In this review we propose a conceptual model summarizing the role of immunoglobulins in resistance to GIN. We highlight the need for more carefully designed and documented studies to allow comparisons across different populations on the immunoglobulin response to GIN infection.
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19
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Estrada-Reyes ZM, Rae O, Postley C, Jiménez Medrano MB, Leal Gutiérrez JD, Mateescu RG. Association study reveals Th17, Treg, and Th2 loci related to resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Florida Native sheep1. J Anim Sci 2020; 97:4428-4444. [PMID: 31541548 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify for the first time single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with Haemonchus contortus resistance in Florida Native sheep, using a targeted sequencing approach. One hundred and fifty-three lambs were evaluated in this study. At the start of the trial, phenotypic records for fecal egg count (FEC), FAMACHA score, body condition score (BCS), and weight were recorded and deworming of sheep with levamisole (18 mg/kg of body weight) was performed. Ten days post-deworming (baseline) and 28 d post-baseline, a full hematogram of each sheep was obtained and FEC, FAMACHA score, BCS, and weight were assessed. Average daily gain was calculated at the end of the trial. Out of 153 animals, 100 sheep were selected for genotyping using a targeted sequencing approach. Targeted sequencing panel included 100 candidate genes for immune response against H. contortus. SNPs were discarded if call rate <95% and minor allele frequency ≤0.05. A mixed model was used to analyze the response variables and included the identity by state matrix to control for population structure. A contemporary group (age, group, and sex) was included as fixed effect. Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple testing. Eighteen SNPs on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 15, 18, 20, 24, and 26 were significant for different traits. Our results suggest that loci related to Th17, Treg, and Th2 responses play an important role in the expression of resistant phenotypes. Several genes including ITGA4, MUC15, TLR3, PCDH7, CFI, CXCL10, TNF, CCL26, STAT3, GPX2, IL2RB, and STAT6 were identified as potential markers for resistance to natural H. contortus exposure. This is the first study that evaluates potential genetic markers for H. contortus resistance in Florida Native sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Owen Rae
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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20
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Estrada-Reyes ZM, Tsukahara Y, Amadeu RR, Goetsch AL, Gipson TA, Sahlu T, Puchala R, Wang Z, Hart SP, Mateescu RG. Signatures of selection for resistance to Haemonchus contortus in sheep and goats. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:735. [PMID: 31615414 PMCID: PMC6792194 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6150-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal nematode infection (GNI) is the most important disease affecting the small ruminant industry in U.S. The environmental conditions in the southern United States are ideal for the survival of the most pathogenic gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus. Host genetic variation for resistance to H. contortus allows selective breeding for increased resistance of animals. This selection process increases the prevalence of particular alleles in sheep and goats and creates unique genetic patterns in the genome of these species. The aim of this study was to identify loci with divergent allelic frequencies in a candidate gene panel of 100 genes using two different approaches (frequentist and Bayesian) to estimate Fst outliers in three different breeds of sheep and goats exposed to H. contortus. Results Our results for sheep populations showed SNPs under selection in C3AR1, CSF3, SOCS2, NOS2, STAT5B, TGFB2 and IL2RA genes using frequentist and Bayesian approaches. For goats, SNPs in CD1D, ITGA9, IL12A, IL13RA1, CD86 and TGFB2 genes were under selection. Common signatures of selection in both species were observed in NOS2, TGFB2 and TLR4 genes. Directional selection was present in all SNPs evaluated in the present study. Conclusions A total of 13 SNPs within 7 genes of our candidate gene panel related to H. contortus exposure were identified under selection in sheep populations. For goats, 11 SNPs within 7 genes were identified under selection. Results from this study support the hypothesis that resistance to H. contortus is likely to be controlled by many loci. Shared signatures of selection related to mechanisms of immune protection against H. contortus infection in sheep and goats could be useful targets in breeding programs aimed to produce resistant animals with low FEC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoko Tsukahara
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Rodrigo R Amadeu
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Arthur L Goetsch
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Terry A Gipson
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Tilahun Sahlu
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Richard Puchala
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Zaisen Wang
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Steve P Hart
- American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, Langston, OK, USA
| | - Raluca G Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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21
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Estrada-Reyes ZM, Tsukahara Y, Goetsch AL, Gipson TA, Sahlu T, Puchala R, Mateescu RG. Association analysis of immune response loci related to Haemonchus contortus exposure in sheep and goats using a targeted approach. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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22
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Babayan SA, Liu W, Hamilton G, Kilbride E, Rynkiewicz EC, Clerc M, Pedersen AB. The Immune and Non-Immune Pathways That Drive Chronic Gastrointestinal Helminth Burdens in the Wild. Front Immunol 2018; 9:56. [PMID: 29459856 PMCID: PMC5807686 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic helminths are extremely resilient in their ability to maintain chronic infection burdens despite (or maybe because of) their hosts’ immune response. Explaining how parasites maintain these lifelong infections, identifying the protective immune mechanisms that regulate helminth infection burdens, and designing prophylactics and therapeutics that combat helminth infection, while preserving host health requires a far better understanding of how the immune system functions in natural habitats than we have at present. It is, therefore, necessary to complement mechanistic laboratory-based studies with studies on wild populations and their natural parasite communities. Unfortunately, the relative paucity of immunological tools for non-model species has held these types of studies back. Thankfully, recent progress in high-throughput ‘omics platforms provide powerful and increasingly practical means for immunologists to move beyond traditional lab-based model organisms. Yet, assigning both metabolic and immune function to genes, transcripts, and proteins in novel species and assessing how they interact with other physiological and environmental factors requires identifying quantitative relationships between their expression and infection. Here, we used supervised machine learning to identify gene networks robustly associated with burdens of the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus in its natural host, the wild wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus. Across 34 mice spanning two wild populations and across two different seasons, we found 17,639 transcripts that clustered in 131 weighted gene networks. These clusters robustly predicted H. polygyrus burden and included well-known effector and regulatory immune genes, but also revealed a number of genes associated with the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and hematopoiesis that have so far received little attention. We then tested the effect of experimentally reducing helminth burdens through drug treatment on those putatively protective immune factors. Despite the near elimination of H. polygyrus worms, the treatment had surprisingly little effect on gene expression. Taken together, these results suggest that hosts balance tissue homeostasis and protective immunity, resulting in relatively stable immune and, consequently, parasitological profiles. In the future, applying our approach to larger numbers of samples from additional populations will help further increase our ability to detect the immune pathways that determine chronic gastrointestinal helminth burdens in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon A Babayan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elizabeth Kilbride
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Evelyn C Rynkiewicz
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Clerc
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Amy B Pedersen
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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23
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Sweeney T, Hanrahan JP, Ryan MT, Good B. Immunogenomics of gastrointestinal nematode infection in ruminants - breeding for resistance to produce food sustainably and safely. Parasite Immunol 2017; 38:569-86. [PMID: 27387842 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection of ruminants represents a major health and welfare challenge for livestock producers worldwide. The emergence of anthelmintic resistance in important GIN species and the associated animal welfare concerns have stimulated interest in the development of alternative and more sustainable strategies aimed at the effective management of the impact of GINs. These integrative strategies include selective breeding using genetic/genomic tools, grazing management, biological control, nutritional supplementation, vaccination and targeted selective treatment. In this review, the logic of selecting for "resistance" to GIN infection as opposed to "resilience" or "tolerance" is discussed. This is followed by a review of the potential application of immunogenomics to genetic selection for animals that have the capacity to withstand the impact of GIN infection. Advances in relevant genomic technologies are highlighted together with how these tools can be advanced to support the integration of immunogenomic information into ruminant breeding programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sweeney
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | | | - M T Ryan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - B Good
- Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
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24
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McRae KM, Good B, Hanrahan JP, McCabe MS, Cormican P, Sweeney T, O'Connell MJ, Keane OM. Transcriptional profiling of the ovine abomasal lymph node reveals a role for timing of the immune response in gastrointestinal nematode resistance. Vet Parasitol 2016; 224:96-108. [PMID: 27270397 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in grazing ruminants. The major ovine defence mechanism is acquired immunity, with protective immunity developing over time in response to infection. Nematode resistance varies both within and between breeds and is moderately heritable. A detailed understanding of the genes and mechanisms involved in protective immunity, and the factors that regulate this response, is required to aid both future breeding strategies and the development of effective and sustainable nematode control methods. The aim of this study was to compare the abomasal lymph node transcriptome of resistant and susceptible lambs in order to determine biological processes differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible individuals. Scottish Blackface lambs, with divergent phenotypes for resistance, were challenged with 30,000 Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae (L3), and abomasal lymph nodes recovered at 7 and 14days post-infection (dpi). High-throughput sequencing of cDNA from the abomasal lymph node was used to quantitatively sample the transcriptome with an average of 32 million reads per sample. A total of 194 and 144 genes were differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible lambs at 7 and 14 dpi respectively. Differentially expressed networks and biological processes were identified using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Genes involved in the inflammatory response, attraction of T lymphocytes and binding of leukocytes were more highly expressed in resistant animals at 7 dpi and in susceptible animals at 14 dpi indicating that resistant animals respond to infection earlier than susceptible animals. Twenty-four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) within 11 differentially expressed genes, were tested for association with gastrointestinal nematode resistance in the Scottish Blackface lambs. Four SNP, in 2 genes (SLC30A2 and ALB), were suggestively associated with faecal egg count. In conclusion, a large number of genes were differentially expressed in the abomasal lymph node of resistant and susceptible lambs responding to gastrointestinal nematode challenge. Resistant Scottish Blackface lambs appear to generate an earlier immune response to T. circumcincta. In susceptible lambs this response appears to be delayed. SNP in 2 differentially expressed genes were suggestively associated with faecal egg count indicating that differentially expressed genes may be considered candidate loci for mediating nematode resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M McRae
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland; Bioinformatics & Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Barbara Good
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
| | - James P Hanrahan
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
| | - Matthew S McCabe
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
| | - Paul Cormican
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
| | - Torres Sweeney
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Mary J O'Connell
- Bioinformatics & Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Orla M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
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25
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Greer AW, Hamie JC. Relative maturity and the development of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep: an overlooked paradigm? Parasite Immunol 2016; 38:263-72. [PMID: 26989873 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sheep display considerable variation in both the timing and magnitude of development of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Onset of immunity is dependent on a number of factors, including antigenic stimulus, nutrition supply, age and size of the animals, the latter of which are confounded. Here, we review the factors associated with the development of immunity to GIN in sheep, particularly in the context of the role that relative maturity may have through applying the rules of genetic size scaling based on examples from published literature. Comparing animals based on their metabolic age, rather than chronological age, may provide an explanation for the timing of immune development and may reduce the variation in immune development that frequently is observed both between and within breeds. Further, this approach may help explain the phenotypic differences in animal performance between animals of varying immunological capacity to GIN through influences on mature body weight. As such, when considering factors influencing immune development to GIN, physiological age or relative maturity may be considered an overlooked paradigm. We propose it may be worthwhile to consider metabolic age when comparing the immune competence of animals to ensure the subjects are at an analogous stage of physiological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- A W Greer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - J C Hamie
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
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26
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Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes represent important sources of economic losses in farmed ruminants, and the increasing frequency of anthelmintic resistance requires an increased ability to explore alternative strategies. Theoretical approaches at the crossroads of immunology and epidemiology are valuable tools in that context. In the case of Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep, the immunological mechanisms important for resistance are increasingly well-characterized. However, despite the existence of a wide range of theoretical models, there is no framework integrating the characteristic features of this immune response into a tractable phenomenological model. Here, we propose to bridge that gap by developing a flexible modelling framework that allows for variability in nematode larval intake which can be used to track the variations in worm burdens. We parameterize this model using data from trickle infection of sheep and show that using simple immunological assumptions, our model can capture the dynamics of both adult worm burdens and nematode fecal egg counts. In addition, our analysis reveals interesting dose-dependent effects on the immune response. Finally, we discuss potential developments of this model and highlight how an improved cross-talk between empiricists and theoreticians would facilitate important advances in the study of infectious diseases.
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27
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Development of a milk and serum ELISA test for the detection of Teladorsagia circumcincta antibodies in goats using experimentally and naturally infected animals. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3651-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4030-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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28
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Zaros LG, Neves MRM, Benvenuti CL, Navarro AMC, Sider LH, Coutinho LL, Vieira LS. Response of resistant and susceptible Brazilian Somalis crossbreed sheep naturally infected by Haemonchus contortus. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:1155-61. [PMID: 24425452 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of Brazilian Somalis sheep to natural infections by gastrointestinal nematodes. During 98 days, 75 weaned sheep, initially 3-4 months old, were kept on the same pasture and evaluated. Fecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological and hematological exams. After this period, the eight most resistant and the eight most susceptible animals were selected based on their individual averages of nematode fecal egg counts and were slaughtered for worm burden determination and nematodes identification. Abomasum and abomasum lymph nodes were also recovered for gene expression analysis. The animals selected as resistant had lower fecal egg counts during experimental period and smaller worm burdens than the susceptible ones (P < 0.05). The genus Haemonchus, followed by Trischostrongylus and Oesophagostomum, were identified in composite cultures. Haemonchus contortus was the specie identified in the abomasum. Packed cell volume and total plasma protein means were higher in the resistant group (27.2% and 6.1 g/dL) than in the susceptible one (22.5% and 5.3 g/dL), respectively. Regarding cytokine gene expression, IL-4 (P < 0.05) was up-regulated in the abomasum of resistant animals and TNF-α (P < 0.03) and IFN-γ (P < 0.03) in susceptible ones. In abomasum lymph nodes, IL-4 (P < 0.04) and IL-13 (P < 0.05) were up-regulated in the resistant animals and IFN-γ in the susceptible one (P < 0.01). This work provides further evidence that, within a given animal breed, individuals have different responses when infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. Resistant animals who responded more quickly and efficiently to these infections activated a TH2-type response.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Zaros
- UFRN - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Caixa Postal 1525, Campus Universitário, Natal, RN, CEP 59072-970, Brazil,
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