Co-evolution of parasites and adaptive immune responses

Parasite infestations and infections of non-traditional pets and wild mammals: diagnosis and treatment

Little is known about parasites in wild mammals kept as pets. For this study, fecal and skin/fur samples and ectoparasites from 55 wild and pet mammals attended at a veterinary clinic were evaluated. Opossums (Didelphis albiventris and Didelphis aurita) were parasitized by helminths (Aspidodera sp., Cruzia tentaculata, Trichuris sp., Turgida turgida and Acanthocephala gen. sp.), screw-worm fly larvae (Cochliomyia hominivorax), ticks (Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma sculptum) and fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) were parasitized by mites (Caparinia tripilis), capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) by ticks (A. dubitatum and A. sculptum), a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) by fleas (C. felis), an orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) by screw-worm fly larvae (C. hominivorax) and another for ticks (Amblyomma longirostre). Overall, mites were found only in pet animals and helminths were found only in wild animals. Infestation by Caparinia tripilis was only found in animals with concomitant illness or stress. Cruzia tentaculata actively exited its opossum host by passing through the animal's anus as its clinical condition worsened.

Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas.

METHODS

Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research.

RESULTS

11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network.

CONCLUSIONS

Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas.

One Size Does Not Fit All: Diversifying Immune Function in the Skin

Our body's most outward facing epithelial barrier, the skin, serves as the frontline defense against myriad environmental assailants. To combat these motley threats, the skin has evolved a sophisticated immunological arsenal. In this article, I provide an overview of the skin's complex architecture and the distinct microniches in which immune cells reside and function. I review burgeoning literature on the synchronized immune, stromal, epithelial, and neuronal cell responses in healthy and inflamed skin. Next, I delve into the distinct requirement and mechanisms of long-term immune surveillance and tissue adaptation at the cutaneous frontier. Finally, by discussing the contributions of immune cells in maintaining and restoring tissue integrity, I underscore the constellation of noncanonical functions undertaken by the skin immune system. Just as our skin's immune system benefits from embracing diverse defense strategies, so, too, must we in the immunology research community support disparate perspectives and people from all walks of life.

Rangelia vitalii in free-living crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) in Uruguay

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoan parasite that causes a hemorrhagic and hemolytic disease in dogs known as rangeliosis. Current reports of the disease are concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil, as well as in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, and mainly concern domestic dogs. South American wild canids, such as the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), the pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), and the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) may also be affected, although existing reports are restricted to Brazil. The present study aimed to detect R. vitalii parasitism in the Uruguayan wild fox population. DNA extracted from the blood and/or spleen samples of road-killed C. thous and L. gymnocercus found in northern Uruguay were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a 551-bp fragment of the Rangelia 18S rRNA gene. A total of 62 wild canids, including 38 C. thous and 24L. gymnocercus, were analyzed. Five crab-eating fox samples (13.2%) were positive for R. vitalii, with 99.5-100% identity between the sequences. All samples from pampas fox tested negative for R. vitalii. When compared with the R. vitalii sequences available in GenBank, a similarity of 98.9-100% was revealed. Molecular analysis results suggest that R. vitalii is circulating in the crab-eating fox population in Uruguay; however, its veterinary relevance for these foxes remains unknown.

Assessing the natural circulation of canine vector-borne pathogens in foxes, ticks and fleas in protected areas of Argentine Patagonia with negligible dog participation

We collected blood and/or ectoparasites from 49 South American grey foxes (Lycalopex griseus) and two Andean foxes (L. culpaeus) caught in two National Parks of southern Argentine Patagonia (Bosques Petrificados, BPNP; and Monte León, MLNP) where dogs are nearly absent (density < 0.01 dog/km2). Common ectoparasites were the flea Pulex irritans (88% prevalence) and the tick Amblyomma tigrinum (29%). Conventional PCR and sequencing of 49 blood samples, 299 fleas analysed in 78 pools, and 21 ticks revealed the presence of DNA of the following canine vector-borne pathogens: in grey foxes, Rickettsia sp. (3%), hemoplasmas (8%), including Mycoplasma haemocanis, and Hepatozoon sp. (50%); in P. irritans, Bartonella spp. (72% of flea pools from 76% of foxes), mostly B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii but also B. rochalimae, Anaplasmataceae (Wolbachia sp.; 60% and 54%), and M. haemocanis/haemofelis (29% and 18%); and in A. tigrinum, Hepatozoon sp. (33% of ticks in 4 of 7 foxes). No piroplasmid DNA was detected in any sample. Andean foxes were negative for all tested pathogens. Two different Hepatozoon haplotypes were detected: the most prevalent was phylogenetically associated with H. felis, and the other with H. americanum and related sequences. Amblyomma tigrinum and Hepatozoon sp. were more abundant and/or prevalent in BPNP than in colder MLNP, 300 km southwards, perhaps located close to the limit for tick suitability. Bartonella v. berkhoffii was also significantly more prevalent in fleas of foxes in BPNP than in MLNP. This study provides novel information about natural host-pathogen associations in wildlife, markedly extends the distribution area in South America of arthropods and vector-borne pathogens of veterinary and public health interest, and contributes preliminary evidence about the potential role of A. tigrinum and P. irritans as vectors, respectively, for potentially new species of Hepatozoon from Lycalopex spp. and for M. haemocanis that should be further investigated.

Periodontal disease immunology: 'double indemnity' in protecting the host

During the last two to three decades our understanding of the immunobiology of periodontal disease has increased exponentially, both with respect to the microbial agents triggering the disease process and the molecular mechanisms of the host engagement maintaining homeostasis or leading to collateral tissue damage. These foundational scientific findings have laid the groundwork for translating cell phenotype, receptor engagement, intracellular signaling pathways and effector functions into a 'picture' of the periodontium as the host responds to the 'danger signals' of the microbial ecology to maintain homeostasis or succumb to a disease process. These findings implicate the chronicity of the local response in attempting to manage the microbial challenge, creating a 'Double Indemnity' in some patients that does not 'insure' health for the periodontium. As importantly, in reflecting the title of this volume of Periodontology 2000, this review attempts to inform the community of how the science of periodontal immunology gestated, how continual probing of the biology of the disease has led to an evolution in our knowledge base and how more recent studies in the postgenomic era are revolutionizing our understanding of disease initiation, progression and resolution. Thus, there has been substantial progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of host-bacteria interactions that result in the clinical presentation and outcomes of destructive periodontitis. The science has embarked from observations of variations in responses related to disease expression with a focus for utilization of the responses in diagnosis and therapeutic outcomes, to current investigations using cutting-edge fundamental biological processes to attempt to model the initiation and progression of soft- and hard-tissue destruction of the periodontium. As importantly, the next era in the immunobiology of periodontal disease will need to engage more sophisticated experimental designs for clinical studies to enable robust translation of basic biologic processes that are in action early in the transition from health to disease, those which stimulate microenvironmental changes that select for a more pathogenic microbial ecology and those that represent a rebalancing of the complex host responses and a resolution of inflammatory tissue destruction.

Anisakis simplex: from obscure infectious worm to inducer of immune hypersensitivity

Infection of humans with the nematode worm parasite Anisakis simplex was first described in the 1960s in association with the consumption of raw or undercooked fish. During the 1990s it was realized that even the ingestion of dead worms in food fish can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions, that these may be more prevalent than infection itself, and that this outcome could be associated with food preparations previously considered safe. Not only may allergic symptoms arise from infection by the parasites ("gastroallergic anisakiasis"), but true anaphylactic reactions can also occur following exposure to allergens from dead worms by food-borne, airborne, or skin contact routes. This review discusses A. simplex pathogenesis in humans, covering immune hypersensitivity reactions both in the context of a living infection and in terms of exposure to its allergens by other routes. Over the last 20 years, several studies have concentrated on A. simplex antigen characterization and innate as well as adaptive immune response to this parasite. Molecular characterization of Anisakis allergens and isolation of their encoding cDNAs is now an active field of research that should provide improved diagnostic tools in addition to tools with which to enhance our understanding of pathogenesis and controversial aspects of A. simplex allergy. We also discuss the potential relevance of parasite products such as allergens, proteinases, and proteinase inhibitors and the activation of basophils, eosinophils, and mast cells in the induction of A. simplex-related immune hypersensitivity states induced by exposure to the parasite, dead or alive.

Correlated mutations: advances and limitations. A study on fusion proteins and on the Cohesin-Dockerin families

Correlated mutations have been repeatedly exploited for intramolecular contact map prediction. Over the last decade these efforts yielded several methods for measuring correlated mutations. Nevertheless, the application of correlated mutations for the prediction of intermolecular interactions has not yet been explored. This gap is due to several obstacles, such as 3D complexes availability, paralog discrimination, and the availability of sequence pairs that are required for inter- but not intramolecular analyses. Here we selected for analysis fusion protein families that bypass some of these obstacles. We find that several correlated mutation measurements yield reasonable accuracy for intramolecular contact map prediction on the fusion dataset. However, the accuracy level drops sharply in intermolecular contacts prediction. This drop in accuracy does not occur always. In the Cohesin-Dockerin family, reasonable accuracy is achieved in the prediction of both intra- and intermolecular contacts. The Cohesin-Dockerin family is well suited for correlated mutation analysis. Because, however, this family constitutes a special case (it has radical mutations, has domain repeats, within each species each Dockerin domain interacts with each Cohesin domain, see below), the successful prediction in this family does not point to a general potential in using correlated mutations for predicting intermolecular contacts. Overall, the results of our study indicate that current methodologies of correlated mutations analysis are not suitable for large-scale intermolecular contact prediction, and thus cannot assist in docking. With current measurements, sequence availability, sequence annotations, and underdeveloped sequence pairing methods, correlated mutations can yield reasonable accuracy only for a handful of families.

Gastrointestinal nematodes, nutrition and immunity: breaking the negative spiral

Nutritionists have long understood that intestinal nematode parasites have deleterious effects on host nutritional status, but only recently has the importance of malnutrition as a predisposing factor to intestinal nematodes been recognized. Here we review experimental and field studies on the effects of protein, energy, zinc, vitamin A, and iron deficiencies on gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes of humans, livestock, and laboratory rodents, and draw certain conclusions about the state of our current understanding. In general, malnutrition promotes the establishment, survival, and fecundity of these parasites, but the magnitude of the effect depends on factors such as host species, parasite species, particular infection protocol used, magnitude of the infection, severity of the nutritional deficiency, and presence of single or multiple infections and single or multiple nutritional deficiencies. We highlight the Th2 arm of the immune system as a component of primary importance in the association between malnutrition and GI nematode infections. We summarize what is known about underlying mechanisms that may account for the observed patterns. Finally, we suggest future research directions.

Concanavalin A-stimulated proliferation of T cell subset-depleted lymphocyte populations isolated from Fasciola hepatica-infected cattle

Over 14 weeks, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were isolated from eight adult cattle which had been orally infected with Fasciola hepatica via trickle infection over a 10-day period. Two age, breed and sex-matched cattle served as controls. CD4+, CD8+ and gammadelta+ T cells were depleted from whole PBL populations by magnetic bead depletion. Lymphocyte proliferation assays demonstrated a transient, but marked elevation in responsiveness to Concanavalin A (Con A) between weeks 2 and 4 post-infection in PBL from infected animals. Proliferative responses to Con A were significantly greater in PBL from infected cattle than uninfected/control cattle over the initial period of the experiment. Con A-stimulated proliferation of PBL isolated from infected cattle followed a similar pattern to PBL responses to F. hepatica antigen. In both whole and subset-depleted lymphocyte populations from infected cattle, proliferative responses to Con A decreased from day 28 post-infection. Depletion of CD4+, CD8+ and gammadelta+ T cell subpopulations significantly augmented responses soon after infection. These findings suggest that the capacity of bovine PBL to proliferate in response to Con A stimulation, was in some way attenuated by F. hepatica infection and proliferative responses due to non-specific activation was suppressed by the coordinated activities of various lymphocyte subsets.

Coevolution of recovery ability and virulence

Most models for coevolution of hosts and parasites are based on the assumption that resistance of hosts to parasites is an all-or-nothing effect. In many cases, for example where parasites require an appropriate receptor on host cells, this is a reasonable assumption. However, in many other cases, for example where hosts mount an immune response, this picture may be too simple. An immune system is expensive to maintain, which poses a question as to how much of its resources a host should allocate to resist parasites: if the risk of infection is low, natural selection may favour hosts with less effective immune systems. As optimal allocation to defence will depend on the force of infection, and the force of infection, in turn, depends on the level of defence in the rest of the host population, a game-theoretic approach is necessary. Here I analyse a simple model for the evolution of the ability to recover from infection. If parasites are not allowed to coevolve, the outcome is a single evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS). If the parasites coevolve, multiple evolutionary outcomes are possible, one in which the parasites are relatively avirulent and common and the hosts invest little in recovery ability, and another (the escalated arms race) where parasites are rare but virulent and the hosts invest heavily in defence.

Antigenic diversity in the periodontopathogen, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

We have identified a significant level of variation in antibody responses to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans outer membrane antigens (OMA). This study was designed to verify A. actinomycetemcomitans antigenic diversity that could contribute to maintaining this chronic infection despite the host immune response. A. actinomycetemcomitans strains (5 from different patients and 3 the same patient) were cultured and OMA prepared for Western immunoblotting studies. Antigen bands in the OMA were identified using 7 sera obtained from 3 adult periodontitis (AP) and 4 localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patients that were documented with elevated A. actinomycetemcomitans antibody and infection. Differences/similarities in the antigen patterns among the A. actinomycetemcomitans strains were assessed using a kappa similarity coefficient. Antigen bands in the A. actinomycetemcomitans strains ranged from 11-150 kDa; however, variation in antigen patterns were noted among the strains. Utilizing the human sera as probes for antigenic diversity, the 5 heterologous strains showed average K=0.23 (p < 0.05), while homologous A. actinomycetemcomitans strains had a K=0.48 (p < 0.02). The A. actinomycetemcomitans OMA were used as probes to describe variability in host antibody and as such presumptive evidence of antigenic diversity in A. actinomycetemcomitans that is colonizing each of the patients. The results showed average K=0.26 (p < 0.05) for the patients when tested against each of the heterologous strains, and K=0.14 when tested against the homologous strains (p > 0.1). Finally, antigen bands of M r 80, 65, 58, 31 and 20 kDa were demonstrated as antigens contributing to the antigenic diversity in A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Treatment of chronic Chagas' disease with benznidazole: clinical and serologic evolution of patients with long-term follow-up

Prescribing etiologic treatment for chronic Chagas' disease is highly controversial because of the difficulties involved in assessing its therapeutic efficacy--the low degree of parasitemia, the persistence of positive immunologic reactions, the lack of clinical findings to support each type of treatment, and the necessarily prolonged follow-up of the patient. An 8-year average follow-up was performed on 131 patients treated with benznidazole (5 mg/kg/day for 30 days) (TP) and 70 untreated patients (UTP) by serial electrocardiograms and analysis of the cardiomyopathic progress of the clinical groups, and by immunologic tests at both the beginning and end of the study. TPs presented less electrocardiographic changes during the follow-up period (4.2% vs 30%) and a lower frequency of deterioration in their clinical condition (2.1% vs 17%). The percentage of TPs who were serologically negative was 19.1% whereas 6% of the UTPs became serologically negative, a result that correlated with a lack of progress in the cardiomyopathy. Benznidazole treatment significantly decreased serologic titers, signifying parasitologic cure in two patients.