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Santoro A, Santolamazza F, Cacciò SM, La Rosa G, Antolová D, Auer H, Bagrade G, Bandelj P, Basso W, Beck R, Citterio CV, Davidson RK, Deksne G, Frey CF, Fuglei E, Glawischnig W, Gottstein B, Harna J, Huus Petersen H, Karamon J, Jansen F, Jarošová J, Jokelainen P, Lundström-Stadelmann B, Maksimov P, Miljević M, Miterpáková M, Moks E, Origgi F, Ozolina Z, Ryser MP, Romig T, Šarkūnas M, Scorrano N, Saarma U, Šnábel V, Sréter T, Umhang G, Vengušt G, Žele Vengušt D, Casulli A. Mitochondrial genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Echinococcus multilocularis in Europe. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:233-245. [PMID: 38246405 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The cestode Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a fatal zoonotic parasitic disease of the northern hemisphere. Red foxes are the main reservoir hosts and, likely, the main drivers of the geographic spread of the disease in Europe. Knowledge of genetic relationships among E. multilocularis isolates at a European scale is key to understanding the dispersal characteristics of E. multilocularis. Hence, the present study aimed to describe the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis isolates obtained from different host species in 19 European countries. Based on the analysis of complete nucleotide sequences of the cob, atp6, nad2, nad1 and cox1 mitochondrial genes (4,968 bp), 43 haplotypes were inferred. Four haplotypes represented 62.56 % of the examined isolates (142/227), and one of these four haplotypes was found in each country investigated, except Svalbard, Norway. While the haplotypes from Svalbard were markedly different from all the others, mainland Europe appeared to be dominated by two main clusters, represented by most western, central and eastern European countries, and the Baltic countries and northeastern Poland, respectively. Moreover, one Asian-like haplotype was identified in Latvia and northeastern Poland. To better elucidate the presence of Asian genetic variants of E. multilocularis in Europe, and to obtain a more comprehensive Europe-wide coverage, further studies, including samples from endemic regions not investigated in the present study, especially some eastern European countries, are needed. Further, the present work proposes historical causes that may have contributed to shaping the current genetic variability of E. multilocularis in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Santoro
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Federica Santolamazza
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simone M Cacciò
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Rosa
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Herbert Auer
- Medical Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Guna Bagrade
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Wildlife Management Research Group, Salaspils, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Petra Bandelj
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Relja Beck
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Laboratory for Parasitology, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Carlo V Citterio
- Centro Specialistico Fauna Selvatica, SCT2-Belluno, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Via Cappellari 44/A, 32100 Belluno, Italy
| | | | - Gunita Deksne
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Lejupes Street 3, Riga LV-1076, Latvia; Faculty of Biology, University of Lavia, Jelgavas Street 1, Riga LV-1004, Latvia
| | - Caroline F Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eva Fuglei
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Walter Glawischnig
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Innsbruck, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Technikerstraße 70, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jiří Harna
- State Veterinary Institute Olomouc, Jakoubka ze Stribra 1, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Heidi Huus Petersen
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark, Stationsparken 31-33 2600, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Jacek Karamon
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Partyzantow Avenue 57, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
| | - Famke Jansen
- Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Department of Biomedical Sciences, 155 Nationalestraat, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Júlia Jarošová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald‑Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Milan Miljević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Martina Miterpáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Epp Moks
- National Centre for Laboratory Research and Risk Assessment, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 30, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Francesco Origgi
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Längassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Zanda Ozolina
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Lejupes Street 3, Riga LV-1076, Latvia
| | - Marie-Pierre Ryser
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Längassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Romig
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mindaugas Šarkūnas
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės str. 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Nathalie Scorrano
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Viliam Šnábel
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Tamás Sréter
- National Reference Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gèrald Umhang
- Anses, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, National Reference Laboratory Echinococcus spp, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Gorazd Vengušt
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Diana Žele Vengušt
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Adriano Casulli
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Antolová D, Šnábel V, Jarošová J, Cavallero S, D’Amelio S, Syrota Y, Rosoľanka R, Avdičová M, Miterpáková M. Human alveolar echinococcosis in Slovakia: Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Echinococcus multilocularis, 2000-2023. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011876. [PMID: 38198452 PMCID: PMC10805277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a serious parasitic disease caused by larval stages of Echinococcus multilocularis. Between January 2000 and October 2023, 137 AE cases were confirmed in Slovakia. The average annual incidence increased from 0.031 per 100,000 inhabitants between 2000 and 2011, to an average of 0.187 since 2012, i.e. about six times. Among patients, 45.3% were men and 54.7% were women; the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52.8 years. Most cases were diagnosed in the age groups 51-60 years and 61-70 years (33 cases each), and eight patients fell into the age category ≤ 20 years. To better recognize the gene diversity in clinical samples, metacestodes from 21 patients collected between 2013 and 2021 were subjected to DNA sequencing of four mitochondrial genes. Using concatenated sequences of cob (603 bp), nad2 (882 bp) and cox1 (789 bp) gene fragments, 14 isolates (66.7%) were assigned to the European E5 profile of E. multilocularis, two isolates (9.5%) to the E5a subtype, four isolates (19%) to the E4 profile, and one isolate (4.8%) to haplogroup E1/E2. The E5-type profiles and E4 profiles were distributed throughout the country, whereas the E1/E2 profile was found in the patient from western Slovakia. According to the data obtained and GenBank sequences, the E5-type dispersal is so far limited to central-eastern Europe and the variant seems to be indigenous to that region. The admixture with the haplotypes E4 and E1/E2 could have taken place from a historical endemic focus during the fox expansion in the last decades. By employing the nad1 fragment, a typical European haplotype was observed in all 21 resolved Slovak samples. The acceleration in the AE incidence in the last decade suggests the emergence of the disease and the need for further research on human and animal isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Viliam Šnábel
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Júlia Jarošová
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Serena Cavallero
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano D’Amelio
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Yaroslav Syrota
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Róbert Rosoľanka
- Clinic of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Martin, Comenius University Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Mária Avdičová
- Regional Authority of Public Health Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Martina Miterpáková
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
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Karpisheh E, Sadjjadi SM, Nekooeian AA, Sharifi Y. Evaluation of structural changes of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces following exposure to different protoscolicidal solutions evaluated by differential interference contrast microscopy. J Parasit Dis 2023; 47:850-858. [PMID: 38009156 PMCID: PMC10667190 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01632-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study was aimed to assess the structural changes in protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto following exposure to different natural and chemical protoscolicidal agents using differential interference contrast (DIC)/Nomarski microscopy. Protoscoleces of sheep's liver cysts were collected aseptically. Individually, about 1000 protoscoleces were exposed to 0.5% silver nitrate, 20% hypertonic saline solution, 0.5% cetrimide solution and two different concentrations of garlic chloroformic extraction as well as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The protoscoleces viability was assessed using 0.1% eosin solution, and structural modifications in the protoscoleces were examined by DIC/Nomarski microscopy. The results revealed the degeneration of the tegument, disorganization of the hooks, and reduction of the size of the protoscoleces exposed to cetrimide, hypertonic sodium chloride, and silver nitrate. Furthermore, calcareous corpuscles became blurred and opaque and their numbers decreased in all the exposed samples except, those in PBS. The exposed protoscoleces to cetrimide and hypertonic sodium chloride solution showed extensive degeneration of the tegument and disorganization of the hooks. In the group exposed to 200 mg/ml chloroformic garlic extract, the protoscoleces' width decreased. The length, width, and number of calcareous corpuscles also decreased significantly in the silver nitrate-exposed protoscoleces. The study concludes that protoscoleces exposed to different solutions; cetrimide 0.5% and hypertonic sodium chloride 20% caused more pronounced structural changes in the exposed protoscoleces. These changes were well demonstrated by DIC microscopy and can be used as a supplementary tool to evaluate the effects of protoscolicidal agents. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-023-01632-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Karpisheh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71345-1735, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahmoud Sadjjadi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71345-1735, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Nekooeian
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Yosef Sharifi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 71345-1735, Shiraz, Iran
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Kaethner M, Preza M, Kaempfer T, Zumstein P, Tamponi C, Varcasia A, Hemphill A, Brehm K, Lundström-Stadelmann B. Establishment and application of unbiased in vitro drug screening assays for the identification of compounds against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011343. [PMID: 37540716 PMCID: PMC10431624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l. are the causative agents of alveolar and cystic echinococcosis, respectively. Drug treatment options for these severe and neglected diseases are limited to benzimidazoles, which are not always efficacious, and adverse side effects are reported. Thus, novel and improved treatments are needed. In this study, the previously established platform for E. multilocularis in vitro drug assessment was adapted to E. granulosus s.s. In a first step, in vitro culture protocols for E. granulosus s.s. were established. This resulted in the generation of large amounts of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles as well as germinal layer (GL) cells. In vitro culture of these cells formed metacestode vesicles displaying structural characteristics of metacestode cysts generated in vivo. Next, drug susceptibilities of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.s. protoscoleces, metacestode vesicles and GL cells were comparatively assessed employing established assays including (i) metacestode vesicle damage marker release assay, (ii) metacestode vesicle viability assay, (iii) GL cell viability assay, and (iv) protoscolex motility assay. The standard drugs albendazole, buparvaquone, mefloquine, MMV665807, monepantel, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were included. MMV665807, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were active against the parasite in all four assays against both species. MMV665807 and monepantel were significantly more active against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles, while albendazole and nitazoxanide were significantly more active against E. multilocularis GL cells. Albendazole displayed activity against E. multilocularis GL cells, but no effects were seen in albendazole-treated E. granulosus s.s. GL cells within five days. Treatment of protoscoleces with albendazole and monepantel had no impact on motility. Similar results were observed for both species with praziquantel and its enantiomers against protoscoleces. In conclusion, in vitro culture techniques and drug screening methods previously established for E. multilocularis were successfully implemented for E. granulosus s.s., allowing comparisons of drug efficacy between the two species. This study provides in vitro culture techniques for the reliable generation of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles and GL cell cultures and describes the validation of standardized in vitro drug screening methods for E. granulosus s.s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Kaethner
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matías Preza
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kaempfer
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Zumstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Saarma U, Skirnisson K, Björnsdottir TS, Laurimäe T, Kinkar L. Cystic echinococcosis in Iceland: a brief history and genetic analysis of a 46-year-old Echinococcus isolate collected prior to the eradication of this zoonotic disease. Parasitology 2023:1-6. [PMID: 37161714 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is considered the most severe parasitic disease that ever affected the human population in Iceland. Before the start of eradication campaign in the 1860s, Iceland was a country with very high prevalence of human CE, with approximately every fifth person infected. Eradication of CE from Iceland by 1979 was a huge success story and served as a leading example for other countries on how to combat such a severe One Health problem. However, there is no genetic information on Echinococcus parasites before eradication. Here, we reveal the genetic identity for one of the last Echinococcus isolates in Iceland, obtained from a sheep 46 years ago (1977). We sequenced a large portion of the mitochondrial genome (8141 bp) and identified the isolate as Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1. As G1 is known to be highly infective genotype to humans, it may partly explain why such a large proportion of human population in Iceland was infected at a time . The study demonstrates that decades-old samples hold significant potential to uncover genetic identities of parasites in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Karl Skirnisson
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Teivi Laurimäe
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Liina Kinkar
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu, Estonia
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Kronenberg PA, Reinehr M, Eichenberger RM, Hasler S, Laurimäe T, Weber A, Deibel A, Müllhaupt B, Gottstein B, Müller N, Hemphill A, Deplazes P. Monoclonal antibody-based localization of major diagnostic antigens in metacestode tissue, excretory/secretory products, and extracellular vesicles of Echinococcus species. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1162530. [PMID: 37009502 PMCID: PMC10061086 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1162530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are severe parasitic zoonoses caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu lato, respectively. A panel of 7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was selected against major diagnostic epitopes of both species. The binding capacity of the mAbs to Echinococcus spp. excretory/secretory products (ESP) was analyzed by sandwich-ELISA, where mAb Em2G11 and mAb EmG3 detected in vitro extravesicular ESP of both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.s. These findings were subsequently confirmed by the detection of circulating ESP in a subset of serum samples from infected hosts including humans. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were purified, and the binding to mAbs was analyzed by sandwich-ELISA. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to confirm the binding of mAb EmG3 to EVs from intravesicular fluid of Echinococcus spp. vesicles. The specificity of the mAbs in ELISA corresponded to the immunohistochemical staining (IHC-S) patterns performed on human AE and CE liver sections. Antigenic small particles designated as ''spems'' for E. multilocularis and ''spegs'' for E. granulosus s.l. were stained by the mAb EmG3IgM, mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb AgB, and mAb 2B2, while mAb Em2G11 reacted with spems and mAb Eg2 with spegs only. The laminated layer (LL) of both species was strongly visualized by using mAb EmG3IgM, mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb AgB, and mAb 2B2. The LL was specifically stained by mAb Em2G11 in E. multilocularis and by mAb Eg2 in E. granulosus s.l. In the germinal layer (GL), including the protoscoleces, a wide staining pattern with all structures of both species was observed with mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb EmG3IgM, mAb AgB, mAb 2B2, and mAb Em18. In the GL and protoscoleces, the mAb Eg2 displayed a strong E. granulosus s.l. specific binding, while mAb Em2G11 exhibited a weak granular E. multilocularis specific reaction. The most notable staining pattern in IHC-S was found with mAb Em18, which solely bound to the GL and protoscoleces of Echinococcus species and potentially to primary cells. To conclude, mAbs represent valuable tools for the visualization of major antigens in the most important Echinococcus species, as well as providing insights into parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp A. Kronenberg
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Reinehr
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ramon Marc Eichenberger
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences’ (ZHAW), Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Sina Hasler
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Teivi Laurimäe
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Achim Weber
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ansgar Deibel
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Swiss HPB and Transplant Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat Müllhaupt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Swiss HPB and Transplant Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Müller
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Swiss HPB and Transplant Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Echinococcus multilocularis and Other Taeniid Metacestodes of Muskrats in Luxembourg: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Parasite Reproduction, and Genetic Diversity. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121414. [PMID: 36558748 PMCID: PMC9781964 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are competent intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, are frequently infected with this zoonotic cestode, and have even been proposed as a target species to monitor endemicity levels of this parasite. However, their contribution to maintaining the parasitic lifecycle is still unclear. To obtain data on infection frequency and reproductive potential, 280 muskrats from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg were examined for cestode larvae in the years 2013−2017. Based on morphological and molecular identification, Echinococcus multilocularis was found at a prevalence of 14.6%. Other metacestodes were Hydatigera kamiyai, with a prevalence of 45.7%, Taenia martis with 8.9%, Taenia polyacantha with 5.0%, and Versteria mustelae, which was found in 0.7% of all muskrats. More than 80% of E. multilocularis-infected muskrats contained fertile metacestodes with a mean number of >300,000 (and up to 1,609,816) protoscoleces, which is by far the highest reproductive potential known from any intermediate host species in Europe. Temporal analysis of E. multilocularis prevalence within the study period (and in comparison with earlier data) strongly indicates a robust increase in the studied area. Host age seemed to be an important risk factor for infection, as well as co-infections with Hydatigera kamiyai. A preference for the right medial lobe of the liver as the location of E. multilocularis metacestode was observed. Intraspecific genetic variation among 89 discrete E. multilocularis metacestodes was non-existent based on 300−1590 bp sections of cox1. This is a stark contrast to H. kamiyai, of which nine haplotypes were found on a short 318 bp section of cox1, resulting in genetic diversity in the small country of Luxembourg at a similar level than previously reported from large stretches of Europe and northern Asia.
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Kronenberg PA, Deibel A, Gottstein B, Grimm F, Müllhaupt B, Meyer zu Schwabedissen C, Aitbaev S, Omorov RA, Abdykerimov KK, Minbaeva G, Usubalieva J, Siles-Lucas M, Pepe P, Rinaldi L, Spiliotis M, Wang J, Müller N, Torgerson PR, Deplazes P. Serological Assays for Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis—A Comparative Multi-Test Study in Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050518. [PMID: 35631039 PMCID: PMC9146094 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Both alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are lacking pathognomonic clinical signs; consequently imaging technologies and serology remain the main pillars for diagnosis. The present study included 100 confirmed treatment-naïve AE and 64 CE patients that were diagnosed in Switzerland or Kyrgyzstan. Overall, 10 native Echinococcus spp. antigens, 3 recombinant antigens, and 4 commercial assays were comparatively evaluated. All native E. multilocularis antigens were produced in duplicates with a European and a Kyrgyz isolate and showed identical test values for the diagnosis of AE and CE. Native antigens and three commercial tests showed high diagnostic sensitivities (Se: 86–96%) and specificities (Sp: 96–99%) for the diagnosis of AE and CE in Swiss patients. In Kyrgyz patients, values of sensitivities and specificities were 10–20% lower as compared to the Swiss patients’ findings. For the sero-diagnosis of AE in Kyrgyzstan, a test-combination of an E. multilocularis protoscolex antigen and the recombinant antigen Em95 appears to be the most suitable test strategy (Se: 98%, Sp: 87%). For the diagnosis of CE in both countries, test performances were hampered by major cross-reactions with AE patients and other parasitic diseases as well as by limited diagnostic sensitivities (93% in Switzerland and 76% in Kyrgyzstan, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp A. Kronenberg
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8075 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (P.A.K.); (P.D.); Tel.: +41-(0)44-635-87-01 (P.A.K.)
| | - Ansgar Deibel
- Clinics of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (A.D.); (B.M.); (C.M.z.S.)
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute for Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (B.G.); (M.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Felix Grimm
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8075 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Beat Müllhaupt
- Clinics of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (A.D.); (B.M.); (C.M.z.S.)
| | - Cordula Meyer zu Schwabedissen
- Clinics of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (A.D.); (B.M.); (C.M.z.S.)
| | - Sezdbek Aitbaev
- City Clinical Hospital #1, Surgical Department, Faculty of Surgery of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek 720054, Kyrgyzstan; (S.A.); (R.A.O.)
| | - Rakhatbek A. Omorov
- City Clinical Hospital #1, Surgical Department, Faculty of Surgery of the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek 720054, Kyrgyzstan; (S.A.); (R.A.O.)
| | - Kubanychbek K. Abdykerimov
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.K.A.); (P.R.T.)
- Life Science Zürich Graduate School, University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gulnara Minbaeva
- Government Sanito-Epidemiology Unit, Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, Bishkek 720033, Kyrgyzstan; (G.M.); (J.U.)
| | - Jumagul Usubalieva
- Government Sanito-Epidemiology Unit, Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, Bishkek 720033, Kyrgyzstan; (G.M.); (J.U.)
| | - Mar Siles-Lucas
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia (IRNASA-CSIC), 37008 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Paola Pepe
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.P.); (L.R.)
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.P.); (L.R.)
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute for Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (B.G.); (M.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Junhua Wang
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute for Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland; (B.G.); (M.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Norbert Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Paul R. Torgerson
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.K.A.); (P.R.T.)
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8075 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Correspondence: (P.A.K.); (P.D.); Tel.: +41-(0)44-635-87-01 (P.A.K.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hemphill
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012Bern, Switzerland
| | - Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012Bern, Switzerland
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Bucher BJ, Muchaamba G, Kamber T, Kronenberg PA, Abdykerimov KK, Isaev M, Deplazes P, Alvarez Rojas CA. LAMP Assay for the Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis Eggs Isolated from Canine Faeces by a Cost-Effective NaOH-Based DNA Extraction Method. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070847. [PMID: 34357996 PMCID: PMC8308659 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in infected canids and the environment is pivotal for a better understanding of the epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in endemic areas. Necropsy/sedimentation and counting technique remain the gold standard for the detection of canid infection. PCR-based detection methods have shown high sensitivity and specificity, but they have been hardly used in large scale prevalence studies. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a fast and simple method to detect DNA with a high sensitivity and specificity, having the potential for field-application. A specific LAMP assay for the detection of E. multilocularis was developed targeting the mitochondrial nad1 gene. A crucial step for amplification-based detection methods is DNA extraction, usually achieved utilising silica-gel membrane spin columns from commercial kits which are expensive. We propose two cost-effective and straightforward methods for DNA extraction, using NaOH (method 1A) and InstaGeneTM Matrix (method 1B), from isolated eggs circumventing the need for commercial kits. The sensitivity of both assays with fox samples was similar (72.7%) with multiplex-PCR using protocol 1A and LAMP using protocol 1B. Sensitivity increased up to 100% when testing faeces from 12 foxes infected with more than 100 intestinal stages of E. multilocularis. For dogs, sensitivity was similar (95.4%) for LAMP and multiplex-PCR using protocol 1B and for both methods when DNA was extracted using protocol 1A (90.9%). The DNA extraction methods used here are fast, cheap, and do not require a DNA purification step, making them suitable for field studies in low-income countries for the prevalence study of E. multilocularis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J. Bucher
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
| | - Gillian Muchaamba
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
| | - Tim Kamber
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
| | - Philipp A. Kronenberg
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kubanychbek K. Abdykerimov
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Myktybek Isaev
- Department of Parasitology, Kyrgyz Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine Arstanbek Duisheev, Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek 720033, Kyrgyzstan;
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
| | - Cristian A. Alvarez Rojas
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (B.J.B.); (G.M.); (T.K.); (P.A.K.); (P.D.)
- Correspondence:
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