1
|
Taube K, Noreikiene K, Kahar S, Gross R, Ozerov M, Vasemägi A. Subtle transcriptomic response of Eurasian perch ( Perca fluviatilis) associated with Triaenophorus nodulosus plerocercoid infection. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:146-154. [PMID: 37869060 PMCID: PMC10585624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Determining the physiological effects of parasites and characterizing genes involved in host responses to infections are essential to improving our understanding of host-parasite interactions and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. This task, however, is complicated by high diversity and complex life histories of many parasite species. The use of transcriptomics in the context of wild-caught specimens can help ameliorate this by providing both qualitative and quantitative information on gene expression patterns in response to parasites in specific host organs and tissues. Here, we evaluated the physiological impact of the widespread parasite, the pike tapeworm (Triaenophorus nodulosus), on its second intermediate host, the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). We used an RNAseq approach to analyse gene expression in the liver, the target organ of T. nodulosus plerocercoids, and spleen which is one of the main immune organs in teleost fishes. We compared perch collected from multiple lakes consisting of individuals with (n = 8) and without (n = 6) T. nodulosus plerocercoids in the liver. Results revealed a small number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs, adjusted p-value ≤0.05) in both spleen (n = 22) and liver (n = 10). DEGs in spleen consisted of mostly upregulated immune related genes (e.g., JUN, SIK1, THSB1), while those in the liver were often linked to metabolic functions (e.g., FABP1, CADM4, CDAB). However, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed lack of functional enrichment among DEGs. This study demonstrates that Eurasian perch displays a subtle response at a gene expression level to T. nodulosus plerocercoid infection. Given that plerocercoids are low-metabolic activity transmission stages, our results suggest that moderate T. nodulosus plerocercoid infection most likely does not provoke an extensive host immune response and have relatively low physiological costs for the host. Our findings illustrate that not all conspicuous infections have severe effects on host gene regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Taube
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kristina Noreikiene
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Siim Kahar
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Riho Gross
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mikhail Ozerov
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Anti Vasemägi
- Chair of Aquaculture, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46a, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sötvattenslaboratoriet, Stångholmsvägen 2, 17893 Drottningholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Buchmann K. Seals, fish, humans and parasites in the Baltic: ecology, evolution and history. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70. [PMID: 37265200 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary and ecological processes affecting the interactions between hosts and parasites in the aquatic environment are at display in the Baltic Sea, a young and ecologically unstable marine ecosystem, where fluctuating abiotic and biotic factors affect the parasitofauna in fish. The dynamic infections of Baltic cod, a subpopulation of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua Linnaeus), with third stage anisakid nematode larvae of Pseudoterranova decipiens (Krabbe, 1878) and Contracaecum osculatum (Rudolphi, 1802) have increased following a significant increase of the Baltic grey seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius) population in the region. Cod serves as a paratenic host and marine mammals, pinnipeds, are definitive hosts releasing parasite eggs, with faeces, to the marine environment, where embryonation and hatching of the third stage larva take place. The parasite has no obligate intermediate hosts, but various invertebrates, smaller fish and cod act as paratenic hosts transmitting the infection to the seal. Contracaecum osculatum has an impact on the physiological performance of the cod, which optimises transmission of the larva from fish to seal. Thus, a muscle mass decrease of nearly 50% may result from heavy C. osculatum infections, probably amplified by a restricted food availability. The muscle atrophy is likely to reduce the escape reactions of the fish when meeting a foraging seal. In certain regions, where fish and seals are restricted in their migration patterns, such as the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea, the predation may contribute to a severe cod stock depletion. The parasites are zoonotic and represent a human health risk, when consumers ingest insufficiently heat- or freeze-treated infected products. Marked infections of the cod were previously reported during periods with elevated seal populations (late 19th and middle 20th century) and various scenarios for management of risk factors are evaluated in an evolutionary context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Buchmann
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ovegård M, Ljungberg P, Orio A, Öhman K, Norrman EB, Lunneryd SG. The effects of Contracaecum osculatum larvae on the growth of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 19:161-168. [PMID: 36157126 PMCID: PMC9489476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.08.006] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from the Eastern Baltic stock have decreased in numbers and condition since the 1990′s. Among several causes, an increased prevalence and intensity of the nematode Contracaecum osculatum has been discussed. This increase has been attributed to a population increase of the parasites final host, the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Other studies have looked at the role of Contracaecum osculatum on cod growth and condition on recently caught cod, or done short term experimental studies in lab. This study instead investigated the importance of Contracaecum osculatum for cod growth in a sea pen based experiment, where cod were kept and fed in order to monitor growth. The results show that a higher density (number of nematodes per gram liver) decreases cod growth potential. If the number of nematodes exceeded 8 per gram liver cod did not grow in length, even when given generous amounts of food. Accounting for the lack of growth due to Contracaecum osculatum may improve stock assessments and increase the possibility to reach management targets. High C. osculatum density limits cod growth potential, even if generously fed. A higher C. osculatum density result in less, and at a point no growth in weight. If exceeding eight C. osculatum per gram liver, cod do not grow in length.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ovegård
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Marine Research, Turistgatan 5, 453 30, Lysekil, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
| | - Peter Ljungberg
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Skolgatan 6, 742 42, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Alessandro Orio
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Marine Research, Turistgatan 5, 453 30, Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Kristin Öhman
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Skolgatan 6, 742 42, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Emilia Benavente Norrman
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Skolgatan 6, 742 42, Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Sven-Gunnar Lunneryd
- Swedish University of Agricultural Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Skolgatan 6, 742 42, Öregrund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Verma CR, Kumkar P, Khare T, Pise M, Kalous L, Dahanukar N. Contracaecum nematode parasites in hillstream loaches of the Western Ghats, India. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2022; 45:1873-1882. [PMID: 36057983 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nematode parasites of the family Anisakidae infect definitive hosts, such as fish-eating birds and mammals, through primary intermediate hosts like copepods and secondary intermediate hosts like fishes. However, consumption of raw or undercooked fish can lead to nematode infection called anisakidosis in humans. We observed the presence of nematode infection in hillstream loaches of families Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae available for human consumption in the local markets in the northern parts of Western Ghats, India. Scanning electron micrograph and genetic identification employing mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II, identified the nematode to the genus Contracaecum. Histology of infected host revealed the presence of the parasite in muscles. Antioxidant enzyme analysis of host liver suggested that infection leads to oxidative stress in the fish. We suspect that a gradual increase in parasite infection of the loaches in the last decade could be attributed to various anthropogenic stressors that are altering riverine habitats. Since loaches are consumed by tribal people who often prepare the fish without degutting and possibly undercooked, there is a potential threat of human infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chandani R Verma
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pradeep Kumkar
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tushar Khare
- Department of Environmental Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Manoj Pise
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Kalous
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Neelesh Dahanukar
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shu Y, Xie Y, Li S, Cai L, Liu Y, Feng Y, He J, Zhang H, Ran M, Jia Q, Wu H, Lu L. Risk and protection strategies of Amolops wuyiensis intestine against gastrointestinal nematode (Cosmocercoides wuyiensis n. sp.) infection. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:1454-1466. [PMID: 34967095 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Anuran amphibians are susceptible to infection by intestinal nematodes, but the damage and response mechanisms that occur in their intestines after infection are only partially understood. In this study, the intestinal disruption and response mechanisms in Amolops wuyiensis frogs infected with Cosmocercoides wuyiensis n. sp. were revealed through analysis of the intestinal histopathology, digestive enzyme activity, transcriptome and intestinal microbiota. Tissue section analysis showed histological damage and inflammation in the infected intestine, and the digestive enzyme activity indicated a decrease in digestion and absorption of some nutrients. We found that infection led to differences in the intestinal microbiota composition, including lower diversity and symbiotic relationships. The greater relative abundance of the genera Burkholderia and Rhodococcus may enhance intestinal immunity to resist pathogenic infections. A comparison of the transcriptomes of infected and uninfected intestines revealed 1055 differentially expressed genes. GO enrichment and KEGG pathways analyses suggested that the guts of infected C. wuyiensis n. sp. show enhanced complement activation, cell adhesion molecule function, NOD-like receptor signalling pathway activity and other innate immunity responses. Among the adaptive immune responses, the intestinal immune network for IgA production was significantly enriched, and the expression of IL-17D and transforming growth factor beta-1 genes were upregulated in the infected intestine. These results imply that C. wuyiensis n. sp. infection of A. wuyiensis intestine may trigger innate and adaptive immune responses, which reduce the post-infection burden. Furthermore, the intestine of A. wuyiensis may also respond to C. wuyiensis n. sp. infection by increasing metallocarboxypeptidase activity and accelerating smooth muscle contraction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Shu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Yunyun Xie
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Shikun Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Liming Cai
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, China
| | - Yalin Feng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Jun He
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Menglong Ran
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Qina Jia
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Hailong Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - Linming Lu
- Department of Pathology, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Survival of metazoan parasites in fish: Putting into context the protective immune responses of teleost fish. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2021; 112:77-132. [PMID: 34024360 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Defence mechanisms of fish can be divided into specific and non-specific that act in concert and are often interdependent. Most fish in both wild and cultured populations are vulnerable to metazoan parasites. Endoparasitic helminths include several species of digeneans, cestodes, nematodes, and acanthocephalans. Although they may occur in large numbers, helminth infections rarely result in fish mortality. Conversely, some ectoparasites cause mass mortality in farmed fish. Given the importance of fish innate immunity, this review addresses non-specific defence mechanisms of fish against metazoan parasites, with emphasis on granulocyte responses involving mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages, rodlet cells, and mucous cells. Metazoan parasites are important disease agents that affect wild and farmed fish and can induce high economic loss and, as pathogen organisms, deserve considerable attention. The paper will provide our light and transmission electron microscopy data on metazoan parasites-fish innate immune and neuroendocrine systems. Insights about the structure and functions of the cell types listed above and a brief account of the effects and harms of each metazoan taxon to specific fish apparati/organs will be presented.
Collapse
|
7
|
Banerjee S, Pal A, Pal A, Mandal SC, Chatterjee PN, Chatterjee JK. RIG-I Has a Role in Immunity Against Haemonchus contortus, a Gastrointestinal Parasite in Ovis aries: A Novel Report. Front Immunol 2021; 11:534705. [PMID: 33488570 PMCID: PMC7821740 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.534705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) is associated to the DExD/H box RNA helicases. It is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), playing a crucial role in the system and is a germ line encoded host sensor to perceive pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). So far, reports are available for the role of RIG-I in antiviral immunity. This is the first report in which we have documented the role of RIG-I in parasitic immunity. Haemonchus contortus is a deadly parasite affecting the sheep industry, which has a tremendous economic importance, and the parasite is reported to be prevalent in the hot and humid agroclimatic region. We characterize the RIG-I gene in sheep (Ovis aries) and identify the important domains or binding sites with Haemonchus contortus through in silico studies. Differential mRNA expression analysis reveals upregulation of the RIG-I gene in the abomasum of infected sheep compared with that of healthy sheep, further confirming the findings. Thus, it is evident that, in infected sheep, expression of RIG-I is triggered for binding to more pathogens (Haemonchus contortus). Genetically similar studies with humans and other livestock species were conducted to reveal that sheep may be efficiently using a model organism for studying the role of RIG-I in antiparasitic immunity in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samiddha Banerjee
- Department of Animal Science, Visva Bharati University, Bolpur, India
| | - Aruna Pal
- Department of LFC, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Abantika Pal
- Department of Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Subhas Chandra Mandal
- Department of LFC, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
| | - Paresh Nath Chatterjee
- Department of LFC, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ryberg MP, Skov PV, Vendramin N, Buchmann K, Nielsen A, Behrens JW. Physiological condition of Eastern Baltic cod, Gadus morhua, infected with the parasitic nematode Contracaecum osculatum. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa093. [PMID: 32995005 PMCID: PMC7507771 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Establishing relationships between parasite infection and physiological condition of the host can be difficult and therefore are often neglected when describing factors causing population declines. Using the parasite-host system between the parasitic nematode Contracaecum osculatum and the Eastern Baltic cod Gadus morhua, we here shed new light on how parasite load may relate to the physiological condition of a transport host. The Eastern Baltic cod is in distress, with declining nutritional conditions, disappearance of the larger fish, high natural mortality and no signs of recovery of the population. During the latest decade, high infection levels with C. osculatum have been observed in fish in the central and southern parts of the Baltic Sea. We investigated the aerobic performance, nutritional condition, organ masses, and plasma and proximate body composition of wild naturally infected G. morhua in relation to infection density with C. osculatum. Fish with high infection densities of C. osculatum had (i) decreased nutritional condition, (ii) depressed energy turnover as evidenced by reduced standard metabolic rate, (iii) reduction in the digestive organ masses, and alongside (iv) changes in the plasma, body and liver composition, and fish energy source. The significantly reduced albumin to globulin ratio in highly infected G. morhua suggests that the fish suffer from a chronic liver disease. Furthermore, fish with high infection loads had the lowest Fulton's condition factor. Yet, it remains unknown whether our results steam from a direct effect of C. osculatum, or because G. morhua in an already compromised nutritional state are more susceptible towards the parasite. Nevertheless, impairment of the physiological condition can lead to reduced swimming performance, compromising foraging success while augmenting the risk of predation, potentially leading to an increase in the natural mortality of the host. We hence argue that fish-parasite interactions must not be neglected when implementing and refining strategies to rebuild deteriorating populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Plambech Ryberg
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), Kemitorvet 201, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Peter V Skov
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), Willemoesvej 2, Hirtshals 9850, Denmark
| | - Niccolò Vendramin
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), Kemitorvet 201, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Kurt Buchmann
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 7, Frederiksberg 1870, Denmark
| | - Anders Nielsen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), Kemitorvet 201, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Jane W Behrens
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), Kemitorvet 201, Kgs. Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mohamed A, Zuo S, Karami AM, Marnis H, Setyawan A, Mehrdana F, Kirkeby C, Kania P, Buchmann K. Contracaecum osculatum (sensu lato) infection of Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea: inter- and intraspecific interactions. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:891-898. [PMID: 32681931 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The subpopulation of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea has experienced a significant increase in infections with anisakid nematode larvae of the species Contracaecum osculatum sensu lato (s.l.) since the year 2000. The life cycle of the parasite includes seals and especially the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, as final hosts, carrying the adult nematodes in the stomach, crustaceans (copepods, amphipods) as first intermediate hosts and various fish species (clupeids, sandeel) including cod as second intermediate/paratenic hosts. Cod with a body length below 28 cm are generally non-infected but experience increasing infection levels when they switch to a piscine diet (infected intermediate/paratenic hosts). We present an overall frequency distribution analysis of worms in 166 cod (body length 30-49 cm) collected in the spawning area over the last 5 years. It shows a fit to the negative binomial distribution, a prevalence of infection of 89.8%, a mean intensity of 29.3 parasites per fish (range 1-377) and a variance/mean ratio of 59.2 (≫1), indicating overdispersion. We present measurements of the adult Contracaecum osculatum (s.l.) specimens in the seal stomach and show that the parasites reach a maximum length of 6.6 cm (females) and 5.8 cm (males). L3s in sprat have a total length from 1to 11 mm whereas the larvae in cod liver are 3-27 mm. A decreasing mean worm length associated with high worm densities in cod (number of nematodes per liver) was recorded. Possible explanations might include timing of feeding on infected intermediate/paratenic hosts, intraspecific competition (crowding) between larvae in cod and host responses (indicated by a significant antibody production in cod against C. osculatum (s.l.) antigens). A significant negative correlation between infection intensity and muscle mass of cod was found, suggesting parasite-induced down-regulation of growth factors in cod.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdu Mohamed
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Shaozhi Zuo
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Asma M Karami
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Huria Marnis
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Agung Setyawan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Foojan Mehrdana
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Carsten Kirkeby
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Per Kania
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark
| | - Kurt Buchmann
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C., Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Palomba M, Cipriani P, Giulietti L, Levsen A, Nascetti G, Mattiucci S. Differences in Gene Expression Profiles of Seven Target Proteins in Third-Stage Larvae of Anisakis simplex (Sensu Stricto) by Sites of Infection in Blue Whiting ( Micromesistius poutassou). Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050559. [PMID: 32429519 PMCID: PMC7288290 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The third-stage larvae of the parasitic nematode genus Anisakis tend to encapsulate in different tissues including the musculature of fish. Host tissue penetration and degradation involve both mechanic processes and the production of proteins encoded by an array of genes. Investigating larval gene profiles during the fish infection has relevance in understanding biological traits in the parasite’s adaptive ability to cope with the fish hosts’ defense responses. The present study aimed to investigate the gene expression levels of some proteins in L3 of A. simplex (s.s.) infecting different tissues of blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, a common fish host of the parasite in the NE Atlantic. The following genes encoding for Anisakis spp. proteins were studied: Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor (TI), hemoglobin (hb), glycoprotein (GP), trehalase (treh), zinc metallopeptidase 13 (nas 13), ubiquitin-protein ligase (hyd) and sideroflexin 2 (sfxn 2). Significant differences in gene transcripts (by quantitative real-time PCR, qPCR) were observed in larvae located in various tissues of the fish host, with respect to the control. ANOVA analysis showed that relative gene expression levels of the seven target genes in the larvae are linked to the infection site in the fish host. Genes encoding some of the target proteins seem to be involved in the host tissue migration and survival of the parasite in the hostile target tissues of the fish host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marialetizia Palomba
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Parasitology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Paolo Cipriani
- Section of Contaminants and Biohazards, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway; (P.C.); (L.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Lucilla Giulietti
- Section of Contaminants and Biohazards, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway; (P.C.); (L.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Arne Levsen
- Section of Contaminants and Biohazards, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway; (P.C.); (L.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Giuseppe Nascetti
- Department of Biological and Ecological Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
| | - Simonetta Mattiucci
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Parasitology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0649914894
| |
Collapse
|