1
|
Farhat DC, Hakimi MA. The developmental trajectories of Toxoplasma stem from an elaborate epigenetic rewiring. Trends Parasitol 2021; 38:37-53. [PMID: 34456144 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is considered to be one of the most successful parasitic pathogens. It owes this success to its flexibility in responding to signals emanating from the different environments it encounters during its multihost life cycle. The adaptability of this unicellular organism relies on highly coordinated and evolutionarily optimized developmental abilities that allow it to adopt the forms best suited to the requirements of each environment. Here we discuss recent outstanding studies that have uncovered how master regulators epigenetically regulate the cryptic process of sexual development and the transition to chronicity. We also highlight the molecular and technical advances that allow the field to embark on a new journey of epigenetic reprogramming of T. gondii development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dayana C Farhat
- IAB, Team Host-Pathogen Interactions & Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Grenoble Alpes University, 38700 Grenoble, France.
| | - Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- IAB, Team Host-Pathogen Interactions & Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Grenoble Alpes University, 38700 Grenoble, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sokol-Borrelli SL, Coombs RS, Boyle JP. A Comparison of Stage Conversion in the Coccidian Apicomplexans Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia hammondi, and Neospora caninum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:608283. [PMID: 33344268 PMCID: PMC7744739 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.608283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stage conversion is a critical life cycle feature for several Apicomplexan parasites as the ability to switch between life forms is critical for replication, dissemination, pathogenesis and ultimately, transmission to a new host. In order for these developmental transitions to occur, the parasite must first sense changes in their environment, such as the presence of stressors or other environmental signals, and then respond to these signals by initiating global alterations in gene expression. As our understanding of the genetic components required for stage conversion continues to broaden, we can better understand the conserved mechanisms for this process and unique components and their contribution to pathogenesis by comparing stage conversion in multiple closely related species. In this review, we will discuss what is currently known about the mechanisms driving stage conversion in Toxoplasma gondii and its closest relatives Hammondia hammondi and Neospora caninum. Work by us and others has shown that these species have some important differences in the way that they (1) progress through their life cycle and (2) respond to stage conversion initiating stressors. To provide a specific example of species-specific complexities associated with stage conversion, we will discuss our recent published and unpublished work comparing stress responses in T. gondii and H. hammondi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jon P. Boyle
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Biological Sciences, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Curtis B, Harris A, Ullal T, Schaffer PA, Muñoz Gutiérrez J. Disseminated Neospora caninum infection in a dog with severe colitis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:923-927. [PMID: 32954990 DOI: 10.1177/1040638720958467] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A 12-y-old spayed female Schipperke dog with a previous diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease was presented with a 2-mo history of severe colitis. The patient's condition progressed to hepatopathy, pneumonia, and dermatitis following management with prednisolone and dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Colonic biopsies identified severe necrosuppurative colitis with free and intracellular parasitic zoites. Postmortem examination confirmed extensive chronic-active ulcerative colitis, severe acute necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis, interstitial pneumonia, ulcerative dermatitis, myelitis (bone marrow), and mild meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of intracellular and extracellular protozoal zoites. PCR on samples of fresh colon was positive for Neospora caninum. Immunohistochemistry identified N. caninum tachyzoites in sections of colon, and a single tissue cyst in sections of brain. Administration of immunosuppressive drugs may have allowed systemic dissemination of Neospora from the intestinal tract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Curtis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Adam Harris
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Tarini Ullal
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Paula A Schaffer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Juan Muñoz Gutiérrez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum Infection in Dog Population Worldwide: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:273-290. [PMID: 31919799 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan that causes neurological disorders in dogs. This systematic review and meta-analysis targeted at evaluating the worldwide seroprevalence rate of N. caninum in dogs. METHODS Five electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, until December 2018 were thoroughly searched for relevant English language articles. Papers were selected based on inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed in StatsDirect statistical software (version 2.7.9). RESULTS The searching process yielded a total number of 156 papers. The total prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of N. caninum infection in dog population worldwide was measured as 17.14% in data analyses (15.25-19.10). In addition, a significant association was also detected between neosporosis infection in dogs and continent, country, year, WHO regions, sample size and diagnostic method (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Dogs are a matter of concern to public health officials as a source of N. caninum infection. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to provide comprehensive data and systematically analyze the prevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs. Accordingly, it is recommended that researchers carry out further studies to prevent and control neosporosis among dog population worldwide.
Collapse
|
5
|
Lefkaditis M, Mpairamoglou R, Sossidou A, Spanoudis K, Tsakiroglou M. Neospora caninum, A potential cause of reproductive failure in dairy cows from Northern Greece. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2019; 19:100365. [PMID: 32057391 PMCID: PMC7103951 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neospora caninum infection has been reported in a large number of intermediate hosts, such as ruminants, rabbits, mice, etc. but neosporosis has emerged as a serious disease in cattle and dogs worldwide. Abortions and other infertility issues have been reported in the infected cows, leading to great economic losses in farmers. The aim of our study was to assess N. caninum seroprevalence in dairy cattle from Northern Greece (region of Xanthi) by using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Blood samples were collected from 875 Holstein – Friesian dairy cows and tested for Neospora caninum antibodies. Among the cows that were studied, 184 (21.03%) were positive for N. caninum antibodies and concurrently their farms had a known previous history of infertility problems, such as abortions, increased number of artificial inseminations needed for conception, increased rate of returning to estrus and retention of fetal membranes. Neosporis is a common parasitosis in dairy cows. The number of abortions was significantly higher in seropositive cows. In seropositive cows the number of artificial inseminations was increased. The birth interval was much more longer in the N. caninum seropositive cows. Significant economic loss was observed in the infected farms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Lefkaditis
- Veterinary Faculty, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.
| | - R Mpairamoglou
- Veterinary Faculty, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece
| | - A Sossidou
- Veterinary Faculty, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece
| | - K Spanoudis
- Veterinary Faculty, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.
| | - M Tsakiroglou
- Veterinary Faculty, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Molesan A, Goodman L, Ford J, Lovering SJ, Kelly K. The Causes of Canine Myocarditis and Myocardial Fibrosis Are Elusive by Targeted Molecular Testing: Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review. Vet Pathol 2019; 56:761-777. [PMID: 31106678 PMCID: PMC10957289 DOI: 10.1177/0300985819839241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Myocarditis can cause death or permanent heart damage. As epidemiologic and etiopathologic data for canine myocarditis are lacking, we performed a retrospective study using nucleic acid extracted from archived (2007 to 2015) tissues from myocarditis cases and control dogs without myocardial lesions. Heart tissue from pediatric/juvenile and adult dogs was tested with a comprehensive panel of conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting recognized agents of canine myocarditis based on a literature review and informed by the comparative epidemiology of human myocarditis. The PCR screen, which included canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), canine distemper virus, canine herpesvirus, Borrelia spp, West Nile virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, pneumovirus, respiratory coronavirus, influenza virus, Bartonella spp, Rickettsia spp, Mycoplasma spp, and Neospora caninum, did not detect agents in 35 of 66 cases (53%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 41%-65%) and was frequently negative in adults (21/26); by comparison, agents were not detected in 27 of 57 controls (47%; 95% CI, 35%-60%). Canine distemper virus, herpesvirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, Mycoplasma haemocanis, and N. caninum were occasionally detected in both cases and controls; thus, PCR detection was not considered to indicate causation. We previously reported that CPV-2 continues to be associated with myocarditis in young dogs despite widespread vaccination; in adults, CPV-2 was detected in 2 of 26 cases and 4 of 22 controls. As several agents were similarly detected in cases and controls, it is unclear if these are cardiopathogenic, incidental, or latent. West Nile virus was detected at the analytic limit in 1 adult case. We did not detect Borrelia spp, Bartonella spp, Rickettsia spp, or influenza A virus in the myocarditis cases. These data demonstrate the limitations of current targeted diagnostic tests and the need for additional research to identify unknown agents and develop testing strategies for canine myocarditis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Molesan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Laura Goodman
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Services, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jordan Ford
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Samantha J. Lovering
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Marugan-Hernandez V. Neospora caninum and Bovine Neosporosis: Current Vaccine Research. J Comp Pathol 2017; 157:193-200. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
8
|
Neospora caninum in free-range chickens of Central Mexico. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2016; 5:31-33. [PMID: 31014534 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify the presence of Neospora caninum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in brain, myocardium and liver (150 organs) obtained from 50 free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) that coexisted with bovines and dogs in Central Mexico. N. caninum DNA was detected in two brains out of 150 organs (1.3%) from two out of 50 birds (4%). Results from the present study suggest that free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) of Central Mexico are infected of N. caninum. Further, although these parasites were detected in only a small percentage of birds (4%), they may represent a potential risk factor for dogs that feed on them and eventually excrete oocysts, thereby contaminating the water and food of other intermediate hosts. This finding is of particular importance for cases of horizontal transmission in cattle.
Collapse
|
9
|
Silva RC, Machado GP. Canine neosporosis: perspectives on pathogenesis and management. VETERINARY MEDICINE-RESEARCH AND REPORTS 2016; 7:59-70. [PMID: 30050838 PMCID: PMC6055790 DOI: 10.2147/vmrr.s76969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Canine neosporosis is a worldwide disease caused by the obligate intracellular parasite protozoan Neospora caninum, manifesting mainly neurological symptoms. N. caninum has a heteroxenous life cycle and affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals. The domestic and wild canids are the definitive host of the parasite. They shed oocysts after ingestion of tissue cysts from infected intermediate hosts (ovine, equine, bovine, canine, and many other species), containing bradyzoites, or oocyst-contaminated water and food. The presence of dogs in farms is considered a risk factor for production animals. A wide range of diagnostic methods are currently available, but the most used is serology, ie, indirect fluorescent antibody test specific to the antibody detection in blood serum samples. No vaccine is available, but control strategies should be focused on the vertical and horizontal transmission of the parasite, ie, avoid feeding dogs with raw or undercooked meat, and taking care with water for human and animal consumption. No medicines to control the transplacental transmission are available yet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo C Silva
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA,
| | - Gustavo P Machado
- Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery of Small Animals, Dr Munhoz Veterinary Hospital, Itápolis, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|