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Askari Z, Sazmand A, Mowlavi G, Rühli F, Naddaf SR, Rezaeian M, Stöllner T, Aali A, Paknezhad N, Otranto D. Eimeria leuckarti in equid coprolites from the Sassanid Era (2nd-6th century CE) excavated in Chehrabad Salt Mine archaeological site, Iran. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2024; 44:27-32. [PMID: 38043140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.11.003] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study reports coccidian oocysts in an equid coprolite dated to the Sassanid Empire (2nd-6th century CE) recovered in Chehrabad Salt Mine archaeological site, Iran. METHODS Between 2015 and 2017, an archaeoparasitological investigation led to the discovery of an equid coprolite in the Chehrabad Salt Mine archeological site, (Douzlakh), western Iran. Samples were rehydrated using trisodium phosphate solution and were examined by light microscopy. RESULTS Seven oocysts of Eimeria leuckarti (Flesch, 1883) were identified; they were in various stages of sporulation. CONCLUSION This is the first report of ancient coccidian oocysts from equids. The importance of this observation is discussed, and current knowledge of eimeriid oocysts at archaeological sites is reviewed. SIGNIFICANCE The observations of E. leuckarti increases current knowledge of parasite biodiversity in ancient Iran when it rested along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting the East and West that was central to economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions, and to livestock movement that could contribute to the transmission of the parasites from/to other regions. LIMITATIONS The contextual information about animal species present in and around the Salt Mine during its working periods, including Achaemenid dynasty (6th to 4th century BCE) and Sassanid era (2nd to 6th century CE), is very limited and does not allow secure conclusions regarding the host origin of the coprolites. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Application of molecular biology tools to identify the correct host origin of the coprolites and to detect more parasite species is advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Askari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
| | - Gholamreza Mowlavi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Frank Rühli
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Mostafa Rezaeian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Thomas Stöllner
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute for Archaeological Science, Bochum, Germany; German Mining Museum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Niloofar Paknezhad
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano 70010, Bari, Italy
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Kozak S, Merda D, Duquesne F, Breuil MF, Mawhinney I, Petry S. Whole genome sequence analysis of the 2018 Persian onager isolate suggests sublineages within the Taylorella asinigenitalis species. Vet Microbiol 2023; 286:109884. [PMID: 37832214 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109884] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
In 2018, a T. asinigenitalis strain (MCE663) was isolated in a Persian onager tested for contagious equine metritis (CEM) in a United Kingdom (UK) zoo. This bacterium had never been reported in the UK and Multilocus Sequence Typing described a new atypically divergent ST (ST60). Although the causative agent of CEM is the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis, a first natural outbreak of endometritis caused by T. asinigenitalis ST70 was reported in 2019, putting its pathogenic potential into question. In this context, we aimed to further sequence the T. asinigenitalis MCE663 genome and characterize the strain using phenotypical and genetic approaches. Results showed that it gathered all identification characteristics of T. asinigenitalis with smaller colonies and it was susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Genome-level phylogeny showed that the genome MCE663 formed a distinct phylogroup, and only shared ≈ 96.1% of average nucleotide identity (ANI) with the three published T. asinigenitalis genomes, which together shared ≈ 98.3% ANI. According to current cut-offs consensus for species and subspecies delineation (95% and 98%, respectively), our results support the first insights of a sublineage delineation within the T. asinigenitalis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Kozak
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France
| | - Déborah Merda
- ANSES, Paris Est University, SPAAD Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Fabien Duquesne
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France
| | - Marie-France Breuil
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France
| | - Ian Mawhinney
- APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre, Rougham Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK
| | - Sandrine Petry
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, Goustranville, France.
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Mas-Coma S, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Human and Animal Fascioliasis: Origins and Worldwide Evolving Scenario. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0008819. [PMID: 36468877 PMCID: PMC9769525 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00088-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a plant- and waterborne zoonotic parasitic disease caused by two trematode species: (i) Fasciola hepatica in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania and (ii) F. gigantica, which is restricted to Africa and Asia. Fasciolid liver flukes infect mainly herbivores as ruminants, equids, and camelids but also omnivore mammals as humans and swine and are transmitted by freshwater Lymnaeidae snail vectors. Two phases may be distinguished in fasciolid evolution. The long predomestication period includes the F. gigantica origin in east-southern Africa around the mid-Miocene, the F. hepatica origin in the Near-Middle East of Asia around the latest Miocene to Early Pliocene, and their subsequent local spread. The short postdomestication period includes the worldwide spread by human-guided movements of animals in the last 12,000 years and the more recent transoceanic anthropogenic introductions of F. hepatica into the Americas and Oceania and of F. gigantica into several large islands of the Pacific with ships transporting livestock in the last 500 years. The routes and chronology of the spreading waves followed by both fasciolids into the five continents are redefined on the basis of recently generated knowledge of human-guided movements of domesticated hosts. No local, zonal, or regional situation showing disagreement with historical records was found, although in a few world zones the available knowledge is still insufficient. The anthropogenically accelerated evolution of fasciolids allows us to call them "peridomestic endoparasites." The multidisciplinary implications for crucial aspects of the disease should therefore lead the present baseline update to be taken into account in future research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Adela Valero
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
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Bargues MD, Halajian A, Artigas P, Luus-Powell WJ, Valero MA, Mas-Coma S. Paleobiogeographical origins of Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica in light of new DNA sequence characteristics of F. nyanzae from hippopotamus. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:990872. [PMID: 36157179 PMCID: PMC9500510 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.990872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a highly pathogenic disease affecting humans and livestock worldwide. It is caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica transmitted by Galba/Fossaria lymnaeid snails in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, and F. gigantica transmitted by Radix lymnaeids in Africa and Asia. An evident founder effect appears in genetic studies as the consequence of their spread by human-guided movements of domestic ruminants, equines and Old World camelids in the post-domestication period from the beginning of the Neolithic. Establishing the geographical origins of fasciolid expansion is multidisciplinary crucial for disease assessment. Sequencing of selected nuclear ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA markers of F. nyanzae infecting hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) in South Africa and their comparative analyses with F. hepatica and F. gigantica, and the two Fascioloides species, Fs. jacksoni from Asian elephants and Fs. magna from Holarctic cervids, allow to draw a tuned-up evolutionary scenario during the pre-domestication period. Close sequence similarities indicate a direct derivation of F. hepatica and F. gigantica from F. nyanzae by speciation after host capture phenomena. Phylogenetic reconstruction, genetic distances and divergence estimates fully fit fossil knowledge, past interconnecting bridges between continents, present fasciolid infection in the wild fauna, and lymnaeid distribution. The paleobiogeographical analyses suggest an origin for F. gigantica by transfer from primitive hippopotamuses to grazing bovid ancestors of Reduncinae, Bovinae and Alcelaphinae, by keeping the same vector Radix natalensis in warm lowlands of southeastern Africa in the mid-Miocene, around 13.5 mya. The origin of F. hepatica should have occurred after capture from primitive, less amphibious Hexaprotodon hippopotamuses to mid-sized ovicaprines as the wild bezoar Capra aegagrus and the wild mouflon Ovis gmelini, and from R. natalensis to Galba truncatula in cooler areas and mountainous foothills of Asian Near East in the latest Miocene to Early Pliocene, around 6.0 to 4.0 mya and perhaps shortly afterwards.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: María Dolores Bargues
| | - Ali Halajian
- DSI-NRF SARChi Chair (Ecosystem Health), Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
- Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Wilmien J. Luus-Powell
- DSI-NRF SARChi Chair (Ecosystem Health), Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
| | - M. Adela Valero
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, Madrid, Spain
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Askari Z, Ruehli F, Bouwman A, Shariati V, Naddaf SR, Otranto D, Mas-Coma S, Rezaeian M, Boenke N, Stöllner T, Aali A, Mobedi I, Mowlavi G. Genomic palaeoparasitology traced the occurrence of Taenia asiatica in ancient Iran (Sassanid Empire, 2th cent. CE-6th cent. CE). Sci Rep 2022; 12:12045. [PMID: 35835776 PMCID: PMC9283436 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10690-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Palaeoparasitology investigates parasitological infections in animals and humans of past distance by examining biological remains. Palaeofaeces (or coprolites) are biological remains that provide valuable information on the disease, diet, and population movements in ancient times. Today, advances in detecting ancient DNA have cast light on dark corners that microscopy could never reach. The archaeological site of the Chehrabad salt mine of Achaemenid (550–330 BC) and Sassanid (third–seventh century AD) provides remains of various biotic and abiotic samples, including animal coprolites, for multidisciplinary studies. In the present work, we investigated coprolites for helminth eggs and larvae by microscopy and traced their biological agents’ DNA by Next Generation Sequencing. Our results revealed various helminths, including Taenia asiatica, the species introduced in the 1990s. Implementing advanced modern molecular techniques like NGS gives a paramount view of pathogenic agents in space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Askari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Frank Ruehli
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, Zurich University, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Abigail Bouwman
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, Zurich University, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vahid Shariati
- NIGEB Genome Center, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.,Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mostafa Rezaeian
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nicole Boenke
- Institute for Archaeological Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,German Mining-Museum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Stöllner
- Institute for Archaeological Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,German Mining-Museum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Iraj Mobedi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Mowlavi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Staji H, Yousefi M, Hamedani MA, Tamai IA, Khaligh SG. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic of Anaplasma capra in Persian onagers (Equus hemionus onager). Vet Microbiol 2021; 261:109199. [PMID: 34385006 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109199] [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: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma spp. are among the most recognized arthropod-borne infectious agents. Although the novel A. capra has been isolated from wildlife, livestock, and hard ticks from many parts of the world, there is no report regarding the identification of this pathogen from equines and little is known about the epidemiology of A. capra in Equidae. In this study, A. capra was identified in two out of ten blood specimens of wild onagers (Equus hemionus onager) during a routine health check-up in Semnan, Iran by light microscopy and molecular analyses while other pathogens were not detected. First, inclusions on RBC's were observed in two blood smears by light microscopy. Then, the blood specimens of both animals were analyzed by realtime-PCR for Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Theileria infections. A 1400 bp sequence of 16S rRNA belonging to Anaplasmataceae and 874 bp fragment for groEL gene for A. capra were amplified in Anaplasma positive samples and sequenced. Preliminary BLAST analysis of sequenced fragments showed high homology to A. capra strains in GenBank database. Finally, nested PCR and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism techniques confirmed the pathogen as A. capra. To the best of our knowledge, this study has reported the occurrence of A. capra in wild onagers for the first time and suggests that equines could be infected with this pathogen and act as reservoirs for A. capra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Staji
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
| | - Mohammadhasan Yousefi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Ahmadi Hamedani
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Iradj Ashrafi Tamai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Ghaffari Khaligh
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
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Sazmand A. Paleoparasitology and archaeoparasitology in Iran: A retrospective in differential diagnosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 32:50-60. [PMID: 33352520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper reviews paleo- and archaeoparasitology publications to date, from Iran. The primary focus is the importance of differential diagnosis and the crucial role of interdisciplinary collaborations among parasitologists and other specialists. METHODS All relevant articles and theses published in Iran through October 2020 are included and evaluated, with particular emphasis on the diagnostic process. RESULTS Archaeoparasitic studies in Iran have identified a number of parasites that provide insight into the past. Misidentification, however, due to incomplete differential diagnosis, remains an issue, as does incomplete description and problematic images. CONCLUSIONS Identification of paleoparasites to the species level must be supported with accurate morphology and morphometry. Rigorous differential diagnosis is essential. Caution must be exercised when interpreting observations of ova recovered from coprolites. In these instances, precise identification of host animals and aligning parasite ranges with host specificity is critical. The possibility of incidental parasite presence must be evaluated, including non-specificity of parasite tropisms, transport hosting, or contamination. Lastly, differential diagnosis must include consideration of intentional consumption of parasites. Thus, parasitological findings must be placed in geographical, historical, and cultural contexts. SIGNIFICANCE Archaeoparasitological research in Iran has elucidated the presence of faunal and human disease in the past and has, through this reevaluation of the published works, contributed to precise description and diagnosis of ova of roundworms, tapeworms, thorny-headed worms, and recognition of larval stages of tapeworms in recovered remains of mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6517658978, Hamedan, Iran.
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Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D. Parasitic diseases of equids in Iran (1931-2020): a literature review. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:586. [PMID: 33213507 PMCID: PMC7676409 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04472-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections can cause many respiratory, digestive and other diseases and contribute to some performance conditions in equids. However, knowledge on the biodiversity of parasites of equids in Iran is still limited. The present review covers all the information about parasitic diseases of horses, donkeys, mules and wild asses in Iran published as articles in Iranian and international journals, dissertations and congress papers from 1931 to July 2020. Parasites so far described in Iranian equids include species of 9 genera of the Protozoa (Trypanosoma, Giardia, Eimeria, Klossiella, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Theileria and Babesia), 50 helminth species from the digestive system (i.e., 2 trematodes, 3 cestodes and 37 nematodes) and from other organs (i.e., Schistosoma turkestanica, Echinococcus granulosus, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, Parafilaria multipapillosa, Setaria equina and 3 Onchocerca spp.). Furthermore, 16 species of hard ticks, 3 mite species causing mange, 2 lice species, and larvae of 4 Gastrophilus species and Hippobosca equina have been reported from equids in Iran. Archeoparasitological findings in coprolites of equids include Fasciola hepatica, Oxyuris equi, Anoplocephala spp. and intestinal strongyles. Parasitic diseases are important issues in terms of animal welfare, economics and public health; however, parasites and parasitic diseases of equines have not received adequate attention compared with ruminants and camels in Iran. The present review highlights the knowledge gaps related to equines about the presence, species, genotypes and subtypes of Neospora hughesi, Sarcocystis spp., Trichinella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis and microsporidia. Identification of ticks vectoring pathogenic parasites, bacteria and viruses has received little attention, too. The efficacy of common horse wormers also needs to be evaluated systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978 Iran
| | - Aliasghar Bahari
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978 Iran
| | - Sareh Papi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978 Iran
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978 Iran
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Str. prov. per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
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Mas-Coma S, Buchon P, Funatsu IR, Angles R, Mas-Bargues C, Artigas P, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Donkey Fascioliasis Within a One Health Control Action: Transmission Capacity, Field Epidemiology, and Reservoir Role in a Human Hyperendemic Area. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:591384. [PMID: 33251272 PMCID: PMC7674489 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.591384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A One Health initiative has been implemented for fascioliasis control in a human hyperendemic area for the first time. The area selected for this multidisciplinary approach is the Northern Bolivian Altiplano, where the highest prevalences and intensities in humans have been reported. Within the strategic intervention axis of control activities concerning animal reservoirs, complete experimental studies, and field surveys have been performed to assess the fascioliasis transmission capacity and epidemiological role of the donkey for the first time. Laboratory studies with altiplanic donkey-infecting Fasciola hepatica and altiplanic Galba truncatula snail vector isolates demonstrate that the donkey assures the viability of the whole fasciolid life cycle. Several aspects indicate, however, that F. hepatica does not reach, in the donkey, the level of adaptation it shows in sheep and cattle in this high altitude hyperendemic area. This is illustrated by a few-day delay in egg embryonation, longer prepatent period despite similar miracidial infectivity and shorter patent period in the intramolluscan development, lower cercarial production per snail, different cercarial chronobiology, shorter snail survival after shedding end, shorter longevity of shedding snails, and lower metacercarial infectivity in Wistar rats. Thus, the role of the donkey in the disease transmission should be considered secondary. Field survey results proved that liver fluke prevalence and intensity in donkeys are similar to those of the main reservoirs sheep and cattle in this area. Fasciolid egg shedding by a donkey individual contributes to the environment contamination at a rate similar to sheep and cattle. In this endemic area, the pronounced lower number of donkeys when compared to sheep and cattle indicates that the epidemiological reservoir role of the donkey is also secondary. However, the donkey plays an important epidemiological role in the disease spread because of its use by Aymara inhabitants for good transport, movements, and travel from one locality/zone to another, a repercussion to be considered in the present geographical spread of fascioliasis in the Altiplano due to climate change. Donkey transport of parasite and vector, including movements inside the zone under control and potential introduction from outside that zone, poses a problem for the One Health initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paola Buchon
- Unidad de Limnología, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Ilra R Funatsu
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rene Angles
- Cátedra de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Cristina Mas-Bargues
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Adela Valero
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Equines as reservoirs of human fascioliasis: transmission capacity, epidemiology and pathogenicity in Fasciola hepatica-infected mules. J Helminthol 2020; 94:e189. [PMID: 32907643 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x20000693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by liver flukes transmitted by freshwater lymnaeid snails. Donkey and horse reservoir roles have been highlighted in human endemic areas. Liver fluke infection in mules has received very limited research. Their role in disease transmission, epidemiological importance and Fasciola hepatica pathogenicity are studied for the first time. Prevalence was 39.5% in 81 mules from Aconcagua, and 24.4% in 127 from Uspallata, in high-altitude areas of Mendoza province, Argentina. A mean amount of 101,242 eggs/mule/day is estimated. Lymnaeids from Uspallata proved to belong to ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers ITS-1 and ITS-2 combined haplotype 3C of Galba truncatula. These lymnaeids were experimentally susceptible to infection by egg miracidia from mules. Infectivity, number of cercariae/snail and shedding period fit the enhanced F. hepatica/G. truncatula transmission pattern at very high altitude. This indicates that the mule is able to maintain the F. hepatica cycle independently. Individual burdens of 20 and 97 flukes were found. Mule infection susceptibility is intermediate between donkey and horse, although closer to the latter. Anatomo-pathology and histopathology indicate that massive infection may cause mule death. Haematological value decreases of red blood cells, haemoglobin, leucocytes and lymphocytes indicate anaemia and strong immunosuppression. Strongly increased biochemical marker values indicate liver function alterations. The mule probably played a role in the past exchanges with Chile and Bolivia through Mendoza province. Evidence suggests that mules could contribute to the spread of both F. hepatica and G. truncatula to human fascioliasis-endemic areas in these countries.
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Multigene typing and phylogenetic analysis of Fasciola from endemic foci in Iran. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 80:104202. [PMID: 31978563 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is a public health problem originally transmitted from livestock. Although molecular analysis of the nuclear and mitochondrial genes allow discrimination between the two known species of Fasciola, F. hepatica and F. gigantica, these markers do not permit the detection of hybrid forms. On the other hand, molecular analysis of the pepck and pold genes from Fasciola do permit the detection of hybrid isolates and this study has not yet been performed on specimens from human and domesticated animals in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to molecularly analyze Fasciola isolates using both conventional and the two new genetic markers mentioned above. Fifty-three adult Fasciola worms were isolated from the livers of 28 domesticated animals, including sheep, cattle and goat. Moreover, an adult worm was obtained from the bile duct of an infected woman during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancratography (ERCP). Targeted fragments from the ITS-1, NDI and COX1 genes were amplified using specific primers. PCR products were sequenced and genetically analyzed using MEGA v.7 and DnaSP software. Additionally, the pepck and pold regions were amplified and analyzed using multiplex PCR and RLFP-PCR, respectively. Multiple alignment of sequenced fragments showed highest similarity among the ITS-1 sequences isolated from all four hosts in comparison to the other genes. Furthermore, sequence diversity across the COX1 was higher than the NDI and ITS-1. Diversity among sequences isolated from cattle was higher than those from sheep and goat in all three genes. Tajima's D and Fu's Fs were negative and statistically significant for all the genes except ITS-1. Phylogenetic trees showed that the human F. hepatica isolate was closer to sheep isolates. The results of the pepck and pold analyses showed that all isolates were F. hepatica and there were no hybrid forms among samples. The molecular analyses corroborated this finding.
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First report of pre-Hispanic Fasciola hepatica from South America revealed by ancient DNA. Parasitology 2019; 147:371-375. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019001719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIt is generally assumed that the digenean human liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, gained entry to South America during the 15th century upon arrival of Europeans and their livestock. Nonetheless in Patagonia, Argentina, digenean eggs similar to F. hepatica have been observed in deer coprolites dating back to 2300 years B.P. The main objective of our present study was to identify and characterize these eggs using an ancient DNA (aDNA) study. Eggs were isolated and used for aDNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of partial regions from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 mitochondrial genes. Also, phylogenetic trees were constructed using Bayesian and maximum likelihood. Our results confirm the presence of F. hepatica in South America from at least 2300 years B.P. This is the first report and the first aDNA study of this trematode in South America prior to the arrival of the European cattle in the 15th century. The present work contributes to the study of phylogenetic and palaeobiogeographical aspects of F. hepatica and its settlement across America.
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Khademvatan S, Majidiani H, Khalkhali H, Taghipour A, Asadi N, Yousefi E. Prevalence of fasciolosis in livestock and humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Iran. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 65:116-123. [PMID: 31300099 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is a re-emerging disease of livestock and rarely human, being endemic in Iran. Herein, we aimed to quantitatively assess the human seropositivity and prevalence of animal fasciolosis in our country. English and Persian databases were searched for online literature. In total, 10 human seroprevalence studies and 49 animal investigations were obtained from January 1999 to March 2019. Only animal studies were included in meta-analysis. The highest human seroprevalence was detected in Guilan province (326/452; 50%). The pooled prevalence of the animal infections was calculated as 6.2% (95% CI = 5.8%-6.5%). In detail, the prevalence ranges in three hosts included as 4.2% (95% CI = 3.8%-4.5%) in sheep, 9% (95% CI = 8.0%-9.9%) in cattle and 3.1% (95% CI = 2.4%-3.7%) in goat. The highest prevalence rate was observed in the north, 11.8% (95% CI = 8.4%-15.1%), while the lowest prevalence was detected in the central Iran with 1.8% (95% CI = 1.3%-2.3%). Egger's regression test revealed no significant publication bias (P = 0.307). Also, there was no remarkable correlation between weighted prevalence and sample size (P = 0.249) as well as year of study (P = 0.172). These findings would be necessary for better preventive strategies in case of human and animal Fasciola infections as well as snail intermediate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahram Khademvatan
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center & Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Hamidreza Khalkhali
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Inpatient's Safety Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Asadi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center & Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Elham Yousefi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center & Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Aghayan S, Gevorgian H, Ebi D, Atoyan HA, Addy F, Mackenstedt U, Romig T, Wassermann M. Fasciola spp. in Armenia: Genetic diversity in a global context. Vet Parasitol 2019; 268:21-31. [PMID: 30981302 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis, a food- and waterborne infection caused by the trematodes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, is recognized by WHO as a neglected zoonotic disease. Whereas F. hepatica is distributed worldwide in cooler climates, F. gigantica occurs mainly in the tropics of Africa and Asia. The southern Caucasus, with Armenia, is one of the most northern regions where both species occur and may produce hybrids. In this study, livestock in central Armenia was surveyed for fasciolosis, the causative species were determined and the genetic diversity of both species was estimated. Total prevalence in sheep (1794), cattle (324) and goats (9) was 21.2%, 15.7% and 44.4%, respectively. After morphological identification and sequencing of a mitochondrial (nad1) and a nuclear marker gene (28S rRNA), 62 collected specimens were allocated to F. hepatica (n = 55) and F. gigantica (n = 7). Intraspecific diversity was evaluated for the complete nad1 gene, resulting in 29 haplotypes of F. hepatica and six haplotypes of F. gigantica. Diversity was higher among F. gigantica than F. hepatica in the Armenian sample set, a difference that was confirmed analyzing available sequences for both species worldwide. Maximum genetic distance between haplotypes in global networks was 49 nucleotide steps for F. gigantica compared to 15 for F. hepatica. In the available sample sets, F. hepatica showed higher diversity in western Asia and the Middle East compared to Europe and eastern Asia, while for F. gigantica loosely structured clusters comprising mainly western/southern Asian and African haplotypes could be identified. A distinct clade comprising haplotypes from Zambia was basal in the phylogenetic tree. Biogeographical implications of these data are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sargis Aghayan
- Chair of Zoology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hasmik Gevorgian
- Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia; National Institute of Health, Moh Ra, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Dennis Ebi
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Francis Addy
- Department of Biotechnology, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas Romig
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Marion Wassermann
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
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