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de Cock MP, Baede VO, Esser HJ, Fonville M, de Vries A, de Boer WF, Mehl C, Ulrich RG, Schares G, Hakze-van der Honing RW, van der Poel WHM, Sprong H, Maas M. T(r)icky Environments: Higher Prevalence of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Rodents from Natural Areas Compared with Urban Areas. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38853708 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0151] [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: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Urban areas are unique ecosystems with stark differences in species abundance and composition compared with natural ecosystems. These differences can affect pathogen transmission dynamics, thereby altering zoonotic pathogen prevalence and diversity. In this study, we screened small mammals from natural and urban areas in the Netherlands for up to 19 zoonotic pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoan parasites. Materials and Methods: In total, 578 small mammals were captured, including wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), bank voles (Myodes glareolus), yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), house mice (Mus musculus), common voles (Microtus arvalis), and greater white-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula). We detected a wide variety of zoonotic pathogens in small mammals from both urban and natural areas. For a subset of these pathogens, in wood mice and bank voles, we then tested whether pathogen prevalence and diversity were associated with habitat type (i.e., natural versus urban), degree of greenness, and various host characteristics. Results: The prevalence of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens (Borrelia spp. and Neoehrlichia mikurensis) was significantly higher in wood mice from natural areas. In contrast, the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was higher in wood mice from urban areas, but this difference was not statistically significant. Pathogen diversity was higher in bank voles from natural habitats and increased with body weight for both rodent species, although this relationship depended on sex for bank voles. In addition, we detected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus for the first time in rodents in the Netherlands. Discussion: The differences between natural and urban areas are likely related to differences in the abundance and diversity of arthropod vectors and vertebrate community composition. With increasing environmental encroachment and changes in urban land use (e.g., urban greening), it is important to better understand transmission dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in urban environments to reduce potential disease risks for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke P de Cock
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Valérie O Baede
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Willem F de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Calvin Mehl
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Wim H M van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Maas
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Arcenillas-Hernández I, Ruiz de Ybáñez MR, Tizzani P, Pérez-Cutillas P, Martínez-Carrasco C. Influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematodes in the red fox in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Res Vet Sci 2024; 171:105199. [PMID: 38458043 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105199] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Human-induced ecosystem fragmentation is one of the drivers causing wildlife migration from their natural habitats to urban areas, among other reasons. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant wild canid in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Water scarcity may result in areas shared by synanthropic fox populations and domestic animals becoming hotspots for parasite transmission. This study describes the gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematode species affecting fox populations in these semi-arid areas and the influence of environmental variables on parasite abundance. A total of 167 foxes collected from 2015 to 2021 in the Region of Murcia (SE Spain) were analysed. Parasite abundance and spatial distribution were evaluated using environmental variables and host characteristics with a Generalised Linear Model and the Moran index. Eleven species (seven from the gastrointestinal tract and four from the cardiopulmonary tract) were described. The influence of biotic and abiotic variables was studied for Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Temperature, humidity and areas of forest or agricultural land influenced the abundance of these parasites, providing optimal conditions for free-living stages of the direct life cycle nematodes and intermediate hosts. Absolute abundance distribution maps showed defined locations for C. vulpis, T. canis and T. leonina. The results for U. stenocephala, T. canis and T. leonina were particularly important as their higher abundance levels were found close to anthropized areas, which need to be carefully evaluated to prevent transmission of these nematodes between domestic and wild canids and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Arcenillas-Hernández
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Ruiz de Ybáñez
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - P Tizzani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - P Pérez-Cutillas
- Departamento de Geografía, Facultad de Letras, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de La Merced, 30001 Murcia, Spain
| | - C Martínez-Carrasco
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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3
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Tallman PS, Miller AA, Brandley SR, Lee CC, Cepon-Robins TJ, Gildner TE, Collins SM. Helicobacter pylori exposure among the Awajún of the Peruvian Amazon: Prevalence and environmental, social, and biological associations. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024:e24941. [PMID: 38615180 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-a gastric bacteria affecting almost 50% of the global population and leading to ulcers and cancer in severe cases-is a growing health concern among Indigenous populations who report a high burden of reported poor general health and gastrointestinal distress. We test hypothesized associations between H. pylori exposure patterns and environmental, social, and biological conditions among a sample of 212 Indigenous Awajún adults (112 males, 100 females, ages 18-65 years) living in the northern Peruvian Amazon. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dried blood spots were analyzed for H. pylori-specific IgG using a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Resulting seropositivity rates and antibody concentrations, proxying past exposures to H. pylori were analyzed in relation to relevant environmental (toilet type, floor material, reported water quality), social (household size and education level), and biological (age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, immune and metabolic biomarkers) factors using multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS We found near ubiquitous seropositivity for H. pylori exposure in our sample (99.1% seropositive). In the regression analyses, elevations in H. pylori antibody concentrations were significantly higher among males compared to females (β = 0.36, p = 0.01). No associations were found with any other factors. DISCUSSION Anthropological research in the study communities suggests that the male bias in elevations of H. pylori antibody concentrations is related to cultural and biological factors. Future research is needed to further unravel these biocultural dynamics and determine whether elevations in H. pylori antibody concentrations have clinical relevance for gastrointestinal health outcomes in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula S Tallman
- Department of Anthropology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Aaron A Miller
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Sophea R Brandley
- Department of Anthropology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Cassie C Lee
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Tara J Cepon-Robins
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Theresa E Gildner
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Shalean M Collins
- Department of International Health and Sustainable Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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4
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Ghezellou P, von Bülow V, Luh D, Badin E, Albuquerque W, Roderfeld M, Roeb E, Grevelding CG, Spengler B. Schistosoma mansoni infection induces hepatic metallothionein and S100 protein expression alongside metabolic dysfunction in hamsters. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae104. [PMID: 38562583 PMCID: PMC10983833 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a widespread neglected tropical disease, presents a complex and multifaceted clinical-pathological profile. Using hamsters as final hosts, we dissected molecular events following Schistosoma mansoni infection in the liver-the organ most severely affected in schistosomiasis patients. Employing tandem mass tag-based proteomics, we studied alterations in the liver proteins in response to various infection modes and genders. We examined livers from female and male hamsters that were: noninfected (control), infected with either unisexual S. mansoni cercariae (single-sex) or both sexes (bisex). The infection induced up-regulation of proteins associated with immune response, cytoskeletal reorganization, and apoptotic signaling. Notably, S. mansoni egg deposition led to the down-regulation of liver factors linked to energy supply and metabolic processes. Gender-specific responses were observed, with male hamsters showing higher susceptibility, supported by more differentially expressed proteins than found in females. Of note, metallothionein-2 and S100a6 proteins exhibited substantial up-regulation in livers of both genders, suggesting their pivotal roles in the liver's injury response. Immunohistochemistry and real-time-qPCR confirmed strong up-regulation of metallothionein-2 expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus upon the infection. Similar findings were seen for S100a6, which localized around granulomas and portal tracts. We also observed perturbations in metabolic pathways, including down-regulation of enzymes involved in xenobiotic biotransformation, cellular energy metabolism, and lipid modulation. Furthermore, lipidomic analyses through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging identified extensive alterations, notably in cardiolipin and triacylglycerols, suggesting specific roles of lipids during pathogenesis. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the hepatic response to S. mansoni infection, shedding light on the complexity of liver pathology in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parviz Ghezellou
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Verena von Bülow
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - David Luh
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Elisa Badin
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Wendell Albuquerque
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Roderfeld
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Elke Roeb
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Spengler
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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Ritu SN, Labony SS, Hossain MS, Ali MH, Hasan MM, Nadia N, Shirin A, Islam A, Shohana NN, Alam MM, Dey AR, Alim MA, Anisuzzaman. Ascaridia galli, a common nematode in semiscavenging indigenous chickens in Bangladesh: epidemiology, genetic diversity, pathobiology, ex vivo culture, and anthelmintic efficacy. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103405. [PMID: 38183880 PMCID: PMC10809094 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103405] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascaridia galli is the most common nematode in chickens. Ascaridia galli is highly prevalent in chickens reared in scavenging or semiscavenging systems. Here, we studied the epidemiology, pathology, genetic diversity, ex vivo culture protocol and anthelmintic sensitivity of A. galli prevalent in indigenous chickens in Bangladesh. Through morphological study and molecular analyses, the isolated worms were confirmed as A. galli. Of the chickens examined, 45.6% (178 out of 390) were found infected. The male and young chickens were significantly (P < 0.05) more prone to A. galli infection. Prevalence of the infection was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the summer season. In heavy infections, A. galli blocked the small intestine. Marked inflammation, increased mucus production and petechial hemorrhages were evident in the small intestine, particularly in the duodenum. Also, there were desquamation and adhesion of the mucosal villi; degeneration, necrosis of the epithelial cells and goblet cell hyperplasia. The mucosal layer was infiltrated mainly with eosinophils and heterophils. We developed a hen egg white-based long-term ex vivo culture protocol which supported the survival and reproduction of A. galli for more than a week. Levamisole (LEV) and ivermectin (IVM) efficiently killed A. galli. However, albendazole (ABZ), mebendazole (MBZ), and piperazine (PPZ) did not kill the worms even at 120 μg/mL and 1mg/mL concentrations, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that A. galli is highly prevalent in semiscavenging chickens in Bangladesh. Ascaridia galli can be easily maintained ex vivo in egg white supplemented M199 medium. LEV and IVM, but not ABZ, MBZ and PPZ, can be used for treating and controlling A. galli infections in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaya Naznin Ritu
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Sharmin Shahid Labony
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shahadat Hossain
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Haydar Ali
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Mehedi Hasan
- Department of Fisheries Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Nadia
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Akter Shirin
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Ausraful Islam
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Nowrin Shohana
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mahmudul Alam
- Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Anita Rani Dey
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abdul Alim
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Anisuzzaman
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh.
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Koloski CW, Hurry G, Foley-Eby A, Adam H, Goldstein S, Zvionow P, Detmer SE, Voordouw MJ. Male C57BL/6J mice have higher presence and abundance of Borrelia burgdorferi in their ventral skin compared to female mice. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102308. [PMID: 38215632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102308] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme disease in humans. The host immune system controls the abundance of the spirochete in the host tissues. Recent work with immunocompetent Mus musculus mice strain C3H/HeJ found that males had a higher tissue infection prevalence and spirochete load compared to females. The purpose of this study was to determine whether host sex and acquired immunity interact to influence the prevalence and abundance of spirochetes in the tissues of the commonly used mouse strain C57BL/6. Wildtype (WT) mice and their SCID counterparts (C57BL/6) were experimentally infected with B. burgdorferi via tick bite. Ear biopsies were sampled at weeks 4, 8, and 12 post-infection (PI) and five tissues (left ear, ventral skin, heart, tibiotarsal joint of left hind leg, and liver) were collected at necropsy (16 weeks PI). The mean spirochete load in the tissues of the SCID mice was 260.4x higher compared to the WT mice. In WT mice, the infection prevalence in the ventral skin was significantly higher in males (40.0 %) compared to females (0.0 %), and the spirochete load in the rear tibiotarsal joint was significantly higher (4.3x) in males compared to females. In SCID mice, the spirochete load in the ventral skin was 200.0x higher in males compared to females, but there were no significant sex-specific difference in spirochete load in the other tissues (left ear, heart, tibiotarsal joint, or liver). Thus, the absence of acquired immunity greatly amplified the spirochete load in the ventral skin of male mice. It is important to note that the observed sex-specific differences in laboratory mice cannot be extrapolated to humans. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms underlying the male bias in the abundance of B. burgdorferi in the mouse skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody W Koloski
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Georgia Hurry
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Alexandra Foley-Eby
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Hesham Adam
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Savannah Goldstein
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Pini Zvionow
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Susan E Detmer
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Maarten J Voordouw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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Aidoo EK, Aboagye FT, Agginie GE, Botchway FA, Osei-Adjei G, Appiah M, Takyi RD, Sakyi SA, Amoah L, Arthur G, Lawson BW, Asmah RH, Boateng P, Ansah O, Krogfelt KA. Malaria elimination in Ghana: recommendations for reactive case detection strategy implementation in a low endemic area of Asutsuare, Ghana. Malar J 2024; 23:5. [PMID: 38167067 PMCID: PMC10759473 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04792-z] [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: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progress toward malaria elimination is increasing as many countries near zero indigenous malaria cases. In settings nearing elimination, interventions will be most effective at interrupting transmission when targeted at the residual foci of transmission. These foci may be missed due to asymptomatic infections. To solve this problem, the World Health Organization recommends reactive case detection (RACD). This case study was conducted to identify individuals with asymptomatic malaria, their predisposing risk factors and recommend RACD in Asutsuare, Ghana based on literature review and a cross sectional study. METHODS The study involved a search on PubMed and Google Scholar of literature published between 1st January, 2009-14th August, 2023 using the search terms "malaria" in "Asutsuare". Furthermore, structured questionnaires were administered to one hundred individuals without symptoms of malaria and screened using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Malaria prevalence based on the three diagnostic techniques as well as potential malaria risk factors were assessed through questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS Cumulatively, sixty-four (64) studies (Google Scholar, 57 and PubMed, 7) were reviewed and 22 studies included in the literature on malaria in Asutsuare, Ghana. Significant risk factors were occupation, distance from a house to a waterbody, age group and educational level. Out of the 100 samples, 3 (3%) were positive by RDT, 6 (6%) by microscopy and 9 (9%) by rt-PCR. Ages 5-14.9 years had the highest mean malaria parasite densities of 560 parasites/µl with Plasmodium falciparum as the dominant species in 4 participants. Moreover, in the age group ≥ 15, 2 participants (1 each) harboured P. falciparum and Plasmodium malariae parasites. RDT had a higher sensitivity (76.54%; CI95 66.82-85.54) than rt-PCR (33.33%; CI95 4.33-77.72), while both rt-PCR and RDT were observed to have a higher specificity (92.55; CI95 85.26-96.95) and (97.30; CI95 93.87-99.13), respectively in the diagnosis of malaria. CONCLUSION In Asutsuare, Ghana, a low endemic area, the elimination of malaria may require finding individuals with asymptomatic infections. Given the low prevalence of asymptomatic individuals identified in this study and as repleted in the literature review, which favours RACD, Asutsuare is a possible setting receptive for RACD implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank Twum Aboagye
- Bio-Medical and Public Health Research Unit, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Water Research Institute, Accra, Ghana
| | - George Edem Agginie
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - Felix Abekah Botchway
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - George Osei-Adjei
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Appiah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ruth Duku Takyi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Asamoah Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Amoah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - George Arthur
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bernard Walter Lawson
- Department of Theoretical & Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Harry Asmah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Science, University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Paul Boateng
- National Malaria Elimination Programme, Accra, Ghana
| | - Otubea Ansah
- National Malaria Elimination Programme, Accra, Ghana
| | - Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, Unit of Molecular and Medical Biology, The PandemiX Center, Roskilde University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Er-Lukowiak M, Hänzelmann S, Rothe M, Moamenpour DT, Hausmann F, Khatri R, Hansen C, Boldt J, Bärreiter VA, Honecker B, Bea A, Groneberg M, Fehling H, Marggraff C, Cadar D, Bonn S, Sellau J, Lotter H. Testosterone affects type I/type II interferon response of neutrophils during hepatic amebiasis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1279245. [PMID: 38179044 PMCID: PMC10764495 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1279245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in immune response between men and women may influence the outcome of infectious diseases. Intestinal infection with Entamoeba histolytica leads to hepatic amebiasis, which is more common in males. Previously, we reported that innate immune cells contribute to liver damage in males in the murine model for hepatic amebiasis. Here, we focused on the influences of sex and androgens on neutrophils in particular. Infection associated with neutrophil accumulation in the liver was higher in male than in female mice and further increased after testosterone treatment in both sexes. Compared with female neutrophils, male neutrophils exhibit a more immature and less activated status, as evidenced by a lower proinflammatory N1-like phenotype and deconvolution, decreased gene expression of type I and type II interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) as well as downregulation of signaling pathways related to neutrophil activation. Neutrophils from females showed higher protein expression of the type I ISG viperin/RSAD2 during infection, which decreased by testosterone substitution. Moreover, ex vivo stimulation of human neutrophils revealed lower production of RSAD2 in neutrophils from men compared with women. These findings indicate that sex-specific effects on neutrophil physiology associated with maturation and type I IFN responsiveness might be important in the outcome of hepatic amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Er-Lukowiak
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Hänzelmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical Artificial Intelligenc, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Rothe
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - David T. Moamenpour
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Hausmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical Artificial Intelligenc, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Khatri
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical Artificial Intelligenc, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Hansen
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Boldt
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Valentin A. Bärreiter
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Honecker
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika Bea
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marie Groneberg
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Helena Fehling
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Marggraff
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dániel Cadar
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bonn
- Center for Biomedical Artificial Intelligenc, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julie Sellau
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Lotter
- Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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9
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Palacios-Marquez JJ, Guevara-Fiore P. Parasitism in viviparous vertebrates: an overview. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:53. [PMID: 38100003 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08083-z] [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: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive mode of viviparity has independently evolved in various animal taxa. It refers to the condition in which the embryos or young develop inside the female's body during gestation, providing advantages such as protection, nutrition, and improved survival chances. However, parasites and diseases can be an evolutionary force that limit the host's resources, leading to physiological, morphological, and behavioral changes that impose additional costs on both the pregnant female and her offspring. This review integrates the primary literature published between 1980 and 2021 on the parasitism of viviparous hosts. We describe aspects such as reproductive investment in females, offspring sex ratios, lactation investment in mammals, alterations in birth intervals, current reproductive investment, variations between environments, immune system activity in response to immunological challenges, and other factors that can influence the interaction between viviparous females and parasites. Maintaining pregnancy incurs costs in managing the mother's resources and regulating the immune system's responses to the offspring, while simultaneously maintaining an adequate defense against parasites and pathogens. Parasites can significantly influence this reproductive mode: parasitized females adjust their investment in survival and reproduction based on their life history, environmental factors, and the diversity of encountered parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Palacios-Marquez
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edificio Bio-1, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, 72580, Puebla, CP, Mexico
| | - Palestina Guevara-Fiore
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edificio Bio-1, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, 72580, Puebla, CP, Mexico.
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10
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Meena S, Meena JK, Kumar D, Mathur P. Spectrum and Trends of Intestinal Parasitic Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital during Pandemic Times: A Laboratory-Based Retrospective Study. J Lab Physicians 2023; 15:503-509. [PMID: 37780876 PMCID: PMC10539063 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intestinal parasitic infections continue to loom in developing countries with low sanitation and socioeconomic conditions. Pandemic times are especially important to study the prevalence of these pathogens since the focus of all healthcare services was coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and time-trend of intestinal parasitic infections in the capital region of India during the pandemic times. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a retrospective review based on data from the past 2 years in the post-COVID-19 pandemic was used. Descriptive and time-trend analyses were applied to the data. Time series analysis was analyzed using the best fit autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to look for seasonality in trends and forecasting. Results A total of 7267 patients' stool samples over a 2-year pandemic period were included in the study. Intestinal parasites were detected in 11.18% (813/7276) patients. Giardia lamblia (2.28%) and Blastocystis hominis (3.78%) were the predominant ones. Time-trend analysis from 2020 to 2021 using ARIMA model predicted an increasing trend with waning of pandemic. The most prevalent infection was found in the monsoon and autumn months. Conclusion Rates of infection with Giardia lamblia and Blastocystis hominis have increased in comparison to other protozoan infections like Entamoeba histolytica when compared with prepandemic hospital-based studies. With fading of the pandemic, further increasing trends are predicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneeta Meena
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Jitendra Kumar Meena
- Department of Preventive Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar, Haryana, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Purva Mathur
- Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India
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11
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Rehman SU, Farooq S, Tariq MB, Nasir N, Wasay M, Masood S, Karim M. Clinical manifestations and outcome of patients with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Pakistan. A single-center experience. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290394. [PMID: 37939056 PMCID: PMC10631667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a rapidly progressing central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater. The disease progression is very rapid, and the outcome is nearly always fatal. We aim to describe the disease course in patients admitted with PAM in a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan between the periods of 2010 to 2021. A total of 39 patients were included in the study, 33 males (84.6%). The median age of the patients was 34 years. The most frequent presenting complaint was fever, which was found in 37 patients (94.9%) followed by headache in 28 patients (71.8%), nausea and vomiting in 27 patients (69.2%), and seizures in 10 patients (25.6%). Overall, 39 patients underwent lumbar puncture, 27 patients (69.2%) had a positive motile trophozoites on CSF wet preparation microscopy, 18 patients (46.2%) had a positive culture, and 10 patients had a positive PCR. CSF analysis resembled bacterial meningitis with elevated white blood cell counts with predominantly neutrophils (median, 3000 [range, 1350-7500] cells/μL), low glucose levels median, 14 [range, 1-92] mg/dL), and elevated protein levels (median, 344 [range, 289-405] mg/dL). Imaging results were abnormal in approximately three-fourths of the patients which included cerebral edema (66.7%), hydrocephalus (25.6%), and cerebral infarctions (12.8%). Only one patient survived. PAM is a fatal illness with limited treatment success. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment can improve the survival of the patients and reduce mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salman Farooq
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal Tariq
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Nosheen Nasir
- Aga Khan University and Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Wasay
- Aga Khan University and Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sobia Masood
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Musa Karim
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan
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12
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Zduniak M, Serafini S, Wróbel A, Zwolak R. Host body mass, not sex, affects ectoparasite loads in yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2599-2607. [PMID: 37702846 PMCID: PMC10567855 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07958-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the presence and potential causes of sex bias in ectoparasite infestations in the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis. We compared the natural tick and flea burdens of male and female mice in a temperate beech forest and assessed whether the observed differences were driven by host sex or body mass. We found that males were more heavily infested by ticks compared to female mice. However, this difference was driven by host body mass, and not sex itself. Host body mass positively correlated with flea loads, but there was no evidence of sex bias in flea abundance. In addition, the abundance of both ticks and fleas infesting yellow-necked mice changed over time, both seasonally (month to month) and annually (year to year). Our results underscore the importance of the sexual size dimorphism and the parasite taxon as the primary factors that influence the occurrence of sex-biased parasitism in small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Zduniak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Sarah Serafini
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wróbel
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland
| | - Rafał Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
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13
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Biruksew A, Demeke A, Birhanu Z, Golassa L, Getnet M, Yewhalaw D. Schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria are potential hotspot for malaria reservoir in Ethiopia: implications for malaria control and elimination efforts. Malar J 2023; 22:311. [PMID: 37845680 PMCID: PMC10580533 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria infections often go undiagnosed and untreated, serving as reservoirs for infection that hamper malaria control and elimination efforts. In this context, little is known about the magnitude of asymptomatic malaria infections in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Ethiopia. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection and its associated factors in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Ethiopia. METHODS From September 2021 to January 2022, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 994 apparently healthy schoolchildren (aged 6-15 years) selected from 21 primary schools in the Gomma district, of Jimma zone, southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select schools and participants. After allocating the total sample proportionally to each school and then to each grade, participants were selected using the lottery method from a list of student records (rosters). Finger-pricked blood samples were collected for microscopy blood film preparation and malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf/Pv). Moreover, dry blood spots (DBSs) were prepared onto filter papers for quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. RESULTS As determined by RDT and microscopy, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 2.20% and 1.51%, respectively. Using qPCR, the overall prevalence was 5.03% (50/994). Of this, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and mixed infections accounted for 90%, 6% and 4%, respectively. Submicroscopic asymptomatic malaria infection was also accounted for 70% (35/50) of the overall prevalence. Household head age, nighttime outdoor activities of household heads, family history of malaria, absence of insecticide-treated nets (ITN), and presence of stagnant water around the houses are all significantly associated with asymptomatic malaria infections among schoolchildren. CONCLUSIONS This study found that both RDT and microscopy underestimated the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in schoolchildren. However, qPCR was able to detect even low levels of parasitaemia and revealed a higher prevalence of asymptomatic submicroscopic malaria infections. The findings imply that schoolchildren with asymptomatic malaria infection are potential hotspot for malaria reservoir that fuels ongoing transmission. Therefore, it is imperative to include schoolchildren and schools in malaria intervention package and equally important is the adoption of more advanced and sensitive diagnostic tools, which would be crucial for successful malaria control and elimination efforts. Targeted interventions for asymptomatic malaria-infected schoolchildren can provide invaluable support to the National Malaria Control Programme in controlling and eventually eliminating the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdissa Biruksew
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | - Zewdie Birhanu
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Masrie Getnet
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Benatti D, Moraes MFD, Pacheco CAA, Machado DMR, Oliveira WJ, Perin PP, Andrietti LF, Cândido Júnior JF, Vogliotti A, Tebaldi JH, Hoppe EGL. Endoparasites of marsupials in fragments of the Atlantic rainforest, western Paraná State, Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e005823. [PMID: 37851716 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of taxonomy and biodiversity of parasites is fundamental to better understand ecosystem dynamics. The objective of this study was to describe the helminth fauna of two species of marsupials in five fragments of the Atlantic rainforest in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. In a total of 4050 trap-nights, the animals were captured using Sherman, Tomahawk, and Pitfall traps, euthanized, necropsied, and their organs inspected for helminths. After identification of the parasites, descriptors of infection, such as prevalence, mean abundance, mean intensity, and range of intensity, were calculated. Collectively, six helminth species were observed in 18 animals. The following five species were observed in Marmosa paraguayana: Viannaia hamata (58.8%), Gracilioxyuris agilisis (52.9%), Travassostrongylus sextus (17.6%), Oncicola luehei (5.9%), and Pritchardia boliviensis (5.9%). Whereas the following two species were observed in Monodelphis dimidiata: Trichohelix tuberculata (100%) and Travassostrongylus sextus (100%). This study represents a new locality record for all helminths described herein, and a new host for four helminth species. This is the first report on the helminth fauna of Monodelphis dimidiata, expanding knowledge about marsupials in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danise Benatti
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcela Figueirêdo Duarte Moraes
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Carmen Andrea Arias Pacheco
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Dália Monique Ribeiro Machado
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Wilson Junior Oliveira
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Patricia Parreira Perin
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | - Alexandre Vogliotti
- Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana - UNILA, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brasil
| | - José Hairton Tebaldi
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe
- Laboratório de Enfermidades Parasitárias - LabEPar, Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única - DPRSU, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias - FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
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15
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Dassah SD, Nyaah KE, Senoo DKJ, Ziem JB, Aniweh Y, Amenga-Etego L, Awandare GA, Abugri J. Co-infection of Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni is associated with anaemia. Malar J 2023; 22:272. [PMID: 37710279 PMCID: PMC10503114 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04709-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria and schistosomiasis persist as major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. These infections have independently and also in polyparasitic infection been implicated in anaemia and nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed at assessing asymptomatic malaria, intestinal Schistosoma infections and the risk of anaemia among school children in the Tono irrigation area in the Kassena Nankana East Municipal (KNEM) in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana. METHODS A cross sectional survey of 326 school children was conducted in the KNEM. Kato Katz technique was used to detect Schistosoma eggs in stool. Finger-prick capillary blood sample was used for the estimation of haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and blood smear for malaria parasite detection by microscopy. RESULTS The average age and Hb concentration were 10.9 years (standard deviation, SD: ± 2.29) and 11.2 g/dl (SD: ± 1.39) respectively with 58.9% (n = 192) being females. The overall prevalence of infection with any of the parasites (single or coinfection) was 49.4% (n = 161, 95% confidence interval, CI [44.0-54.8]). The prevalence of malaria parasite species or Schistosoma mansoni was 32.0% (n = 104) and 25.2% (n = 82), respectively with 7.7% (n = 25) coinfection. The prevalence of anaemia in the cohort was 40.5% (95%CI [35.3-45.9]), of which 44.4% harboured at least one of the parasites. The prevalence of anaemia in malaria parasite spp or S. mansoni mono-infections was 41.8% and 38.6%, respectively and 64.0% in coinfections. There was no statistically significant difference in the odds of being anaemic in mono-infection with malaria (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.71-2.11, p = 0.47) or S. mansoni (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.58-1.99, p = 0.83) compared to those with no infection. However, the odds of being anaemic and coinfected with malaria parasite species and S. mansoni was 3.03 times higher compared to those with no infection (OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.26-7.28, p = 0.013). Conclusion The data show a high burden of malaria, S. mansoni infection and anaemia among school children in the irrigation communities. The risk of anaemia was exacerbated by coinfections with malaria parasite(s) and S. mansoni. Targeted integrated interventions are recommended in this focal area of KNEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Donne Dassah
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
| | - Kingsley Enock Nyaah
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | | | - Juventus B Ziem
- School of Medicine, C. K. Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Yaw Aniweh
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Lucas Amenga-Etego
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Gordon A Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - James Abugri
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University for Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana.
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16
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Herbert Mainero A, Spence PJ, Reece SE, Kamiya T. The impact of innate immunity on malaria parasite infection dynamics in rodent models. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1171176. [PMID: 37646037 PMCID: PMC10461630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1171176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have probed the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the immune response to malaria. Yet many studies offer conflicting results on the functional impact of innate immunity for controlling parasite replication early in infection. We conduct a meta-analysis to seek consensus on the effect of innate immunity on parasite replication, examining three different species of rodent malaria parasite. Screening published studies that span four decades of research we collate, curate, and statistically analyze infection dynamics in immune-deficient or -augmented mice to identify and quantify general trends and reveal sources of disagreement among studies. Additionally, we estimate whether host factors or experimental methodology shape the impact of immune perturbations on parasite burden. First, we detected meta-analytic mean effect sizes (absolute Cohen's h) for the difference in parasite burden between treatment and control groups ranging from 0.1475 to 0.2321 across parasite species. This range is considered a small effect size and translates to a modest change in parasitaemia of roughly 7-12% on average at the peak of infection. Second, we reveal that variation across studies using P. chabaudi or P. yoelii is best explained by stochasticity (due to small sample sizes) rather than by host factors or experimental design. Third, we find that for P. berghei the impact of immune perturbation is increased when young or female mice are used and is greatest when effector molecules (as opposed to upstream signalling molecules) are disrupted (up to an 18% difference in peak parasitaemia). Finally, we find little evidence of publication bias suggesting that our results are robust. The small effect sizes we observe, across three parasite species, following experimental perturbations of the innate immune system may be explained by redundancy in a complex biological system or by incomplete (or inappropriate) data reporting for meta-analysis. Alternatively, our findings might indicate a need to re-evaluate the efficiency with which innate immunity controls parasite replication early in infection. Testing these hypotheses is necessary to translate understanding from model systems to human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Herbert Mainero
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Spence
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Reece
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tsukushi Kamiya
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, Paris, France
- HRB, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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17
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Buendía-González FO, Cervantes-Candelas LA, Aguilar-Castro J, Fernández-Rivera O, Nolasco-Pérez TDJ, López-Padilla MS, Chavira-Ramírez DR, Cervantes-Sandoval A, Legorreta-Herrera M. DHEA Induces Sex-Associated Differential Patterns in Cytokine and Antibody Levels in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12549. [PMID: 37628731 PMCID: PMC10454633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612549] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; the severity of symptoms and mortality are higher in men than in women, exhibiting an evident sexual dimorphism in the immune response; therefore, the contribution of 17β-estradiol and testosterone to this phenomenon has been studied. Both hormones differentially affect several aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the precursor of both hormones and is the sexual steroid in higher concentrations in humans, with immunomodulatory properties in different parasitic diseases; however, the involvement of DHEA in this sexual dimorphism has not been studied. In the case of malaria, the only information is that higher levels of DHEA are associated with reduced Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the DHEA contribution to the sexual dimorphism of the immune response in malaria. We assessed the effect of modifying the concentration of DHEA on parasitemia, the number of immune cells in the spleen, cytokines, and antibody levels in plasma of CBA/Ca mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (P. berghei ANKA). DHEA differentially affected the immune response in males and females: it decreased IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 concentrations only in females, whereas in gonadectomized males, it increased IgG2a and IgG3 antibodies. The results presented here show that DHEA modulates the immune response against Plasmodium differently in each sex, which helps to explain the sexual dimorphism present in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
| | - Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Teresita de Jesús Nolasco-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Monserrat Sofía López-Padilla
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - David Roberto Chavira-Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico;
| | - Armando Cervantes-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Aplicaciones Computacionales, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico;
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
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Smith AT, Krasnov BR, Horak IG, Ueckermann EA, Matthee S. Ectoparasites associated with the Bushveld gerbil ( Gerbilliscus leucogaster) and the role of the host and habitat in shaping ectoparasite diversity and infestations. Parasitology 2023; 150:792-804. [PMID: 37272490 PMCID: PMC10478068 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Rodents are known hosts for various ectoparasite taxa such as fleas, lice, ticks and mites. South Africa is recognized for its animal diversity, yet little is published about the parasite diversity associated with wild rodent species. By focusing on a wildlife-human/domestic animal interface, the study aims to record ectoparasite diversity and levels of infestations of the Bushveld gerbil, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, and to establish the relationship between ectoparasite infestation parameters and host- and habitat factors. Rodents (n = 127) were trapped in 2 habitat types (natural and agricultural) during 2014–2020. More than 6500 individuals of 32 epifaunistic species represented by 21 genera and belonging to 5 taxonomic groups (fleas, sucking lice, ticks, mesostigmatan mites and trombiculid mites) were collected. Mesostigmatan mites and lice were the most abundant and fleas and mesostigmatan mites the most prevalent groups. Flea and mesostigmatan mite numbers and mesostigmatan mite species richness was significantly higher on reproductively active male than female rodents. Only ticks were significantly associated with habitat type, with significantly higher tick numbers and more tick species on rodents in the natural compared to the agricultural habitat. We conclude that the level of infestation by ectoparasites closely associated with the host (fleas and mites) was affected by host-associated factors, while infestation by ectoparasite that spend most of their life in the external environment (ticks) was affected by habitat type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber T. Smith
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Boris R. Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Ivan G. Horak
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
| | - Eddie A. Ueckermann
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, North-West, South Africa
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa
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19
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Gologorsky MB, Mechler CM, Forgó E, Charville GW, Howitt MR. The abundance and morphology of human large intestinal goblet and tuft cells during chronic schistosomiasis. Parasite Immunol 2023; 45:e12981. [PMID: 37038837 PMCID: PMC10192203 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis affects nearly 240 million people in predominately low- and middle-income countries and ranks second in the number of cases and socio-economic burden among all parasitic diseases. Despite the enormous burden posed by schistosomes, our understanding of how schistosomiasis impacts infected human tissues remains limited. Intestinal schistosomiasis in animal models leads to goblet cell hyperplasia, likely increasing mucus production and reflecting an intestinal type 2 immune response. However, it is unknown whether these same changes occur in schistosome-infected humans. Using immunofluorescence and light microscopy, we compared the abundance and morphology of goblet cells in patients diagnosed with schistosomiasis to uninfected controls. The mucin-containing vesicles in goblet cells from schistosome-infected patients were significantly larger (hypertrophic) than uninfected individuals, although goblet cell hyperplasia was absent in chronic human schistosomiasis. In addition, we examined tuft cells in the large intestinal epithelium of control and schistosome-infected patients. Tuft cell numbers expand during helminth infection in mice, but these cells have not been characterized in human parasite infections. We found no evidence of tuft cell hyperplasia during human schistosome infection. Thus, our study provides novel insight into schistosome-associated changes to the intestinal epithelium in humans, suggesting an increase in mucus production by large intestinal goblet cells but relatively minor effects on tuft cell numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erna Forgó
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology
| | | | - Michael R. Howitt
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
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20
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Coimbra MAA, Mascarenhas CS, Henzel ABD, Wolter JH, da Silva RRC, da Silveira FL, Müller G. Parasite-host relations and new reports of helminths for Rhinella dorbignyi (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) (Anura: Bufonidae) from Neotropical region. Parasitol Int 2023; 96:102766. [PMID: 37244362 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze helminth assemblage in Rhinella dorbignyi regarding host gender, size and mass in two sampling sites in southern Brazil, and to report new parasite associations. Anurans (n = 100) were collected in two localities from Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, from 2017 to 2020. Nineteen taxa (adults and larval forms) belonging to Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Digenea, and Cestoda were found in different infection sites. Cosmocercidae gen. Spp., Physaloptera liophis, Catadiscus sp., and Cylindrotaenia americana were the dominant taxa in helminth assemblage. Female anurans showed higher helminth species richness than males considering the total sample (two localities) or one of the two localities. However, prevalence and mean intensity of infection did not show any significant difference between genders. Mean intensity of infection was significantly higher (19.52) in Laranjal locality. Host body size does not influence helminth abundance, as infections did not show significant correlation snout-vent length (SVL) nor body mass (BM) of anurans. The findings reveal anurans of R. dorbignyi may be intermediate, paratenic and definitive host for these parasites. Plagiorchioidea helminths (Digenea), Physaloptera liophis, larvae of Acuariidae and Spiroxys sp. (Nematoda), and cystacanth of Lueheia sp. (Acanthocephala) constitute new records for R. dorbignyi. Additionally, this is the first record of Cylindrotaenia americana larvae in this host species. Resulting information increases the knowledge on biodiversity and parasite-host relations and may help future conservation programs developed in ecosystems in the extreme south of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Antônio Afonso Coimbra
- Núcleo de Reabilitação de Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (NURFS/CETAS/UFPEL), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário s/n, CEP 96160-000 Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres (LAPASIL), Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário s/n, CEP 96160-000 Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil
| | - Carolina Silveira Mascarenhas
- Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres (LAPASIL), Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário s/n, CEP 96160-000 Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil.
| | - Ana Beatriz Devantier Henzel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação, Faculdade de Educação, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Alberto Rosa, 154, CEP 96010-770 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliana Hinz Wolter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário s/n, CEP 96160-00 Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Frank Lira da Silveira
- Grupo especial de proteção do ambiente aquático do Rio Grande do Sul (GEEPAA -RS), CEP 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Gertrud Müller
- Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres (LAPASIL), Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Universitário s/n, CEP 96160-000 Capão do Leão, RS, Brazil
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21
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Viani A, Orusa T, Borgogno-Mondino E, Orusa R. Snow Metrics as Proxy to Assess Sarcoptic Mange in Wild Boar: Preliminary Results in Aosta Valley (Italy). Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040987. [PMID: 37109516 PMCID: PMC10143256 DOI: 10.3390/life13040987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread diffusion of the wild boar on the Italian territory and its consistent use for hunting have created the possibility to conduct multiple studies on the pathologies afflicting this ungulate. Nevertheless, in the last two decades, only some pathologies such as classical and African Swine Fever, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis from Brucella suis have benefited from substantial public funding and the consequent great interest from the scientific world, while less attention was addressed to parasitic diseases including sarcoptic mange. Therefore, to fill this gap, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of sarcoptic mange in the wild boar population in Aosta Valley in the Northwest of Italy, including sympatric species as foxes. Due to past field surveys, it has been possible to find a possible role of snow metrics in the spread of this pathogen. Even if there are only empirical evidence and the mechanism remain unknown remote sensing analysis considering snow metrics were performed to provide to veterinarians, foresters, biologists, and ecologists new tools to better understand wield board dynamics and join to ordinary tool an instrument to enhance management and planning strategies. The snow metrics (SM) were derived from USGS NASA Landsat 8 L2A retrieved from Theia CNES platform and processed in Orfeo Toolbox LIS extension package. The relationship between SM and the disease spread was tested per each Aosta Valley municipality obtaining LISA maps for each hunting season. The results have showed that this parasite is present in an endemic form even if with rather low prevalence values, equal to 1.2% in the season hunting season 2013/2014, and equal to 7.5% in the hunting season 2014/2015. Moreover, within simultaneous given values of SM, sarcoptic mange seem to find good conditions for spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Viani
- Institute for Piedmont, Liguria, Aosta Valley (IZS PLV) S.C Valle d'Aosta-CeRMAS (National Reference Center for Wildlife Diseases), Località Amerique 7/G, 11020 Quart, Italy
| | - Tommaso Orusa
- GEO4Agri DISAFA Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Enrico Borgogno-Mondino
- GEO4Agri DISAFA Laboratory, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Institute for Piedmont, Liguria, Aosta Valley (IZS PLV) S.C Valle d'Aosta-CeRMAS (National Reference Center for Wildlife Diseases), Località Amerique 7/G, 11020 Quart, Italy
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22
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Li G, Wang Q, Zhang M, Hu B, Han S, Xiang C, Yuan G, He H. Male-Biased Parasitism of Brandt's Voles ( Lasiopodomys brandtii) in Inner Mongolia, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081290. [PMID: 37106853 PMCID: PMC10135223 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081290] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The abundance and prevalence of parasitic infection often vary in different host sexes, and this phenomenon has been named sex-biased parasitism. Brandt's voles are the dominant rodent species in typical steppe habitat and are widely distributed in Inner Mongolia, China, but the prevalence of parasites in Brandt's voles are poorly reported. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of six intestinal parasites in Brandt's voles in May, June, July, and August 2022 around the Xilingol Grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that Syphacia obvelata, Aspiculuris tetraptera, and Trichostrongylidae family were the dominant intestinal parasites in Brandt's voles that we captured in this study, and the infection rates of the three parasites were significantly higher in males than females, which showed obvious male-biased parasitism. Season and human activities such as grazing had no significant effect on the infection rates for different parasites, while the parasite reproduction level was higher when the ambient temperature was around 18 °C. Sexual size dimorphism was ubiquitous in Brandt's voles, and it was mainly manifested by the differences in body weight and length between males and females. Simple linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between bodyweight and parasite infection rates, so the sex-biased parasitism in Brandt's voles could be explained by the body size hypothesis, as a larger body could provide more ecological niches for parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaojian Li
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qinghe Wang
- Nanyang Wild Animals and Plants Protection Station, Nanyang 473000, China
| | - Min Zhang
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bin Hu
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuyi Han
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chen Xiang
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guohui Yuan
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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23
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Sex-biased, but not plumage color-based, prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in free-range chickens. Parasitol Int 2023; 93:102722. [PMID: 36529451 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies found a relationship between blood parasite infection and bird gender, with higher prevalence in males. Some studies also found a relationship between host plumage color and parasitic infection, while others did not. Here, we investigated the blood parasite prevalence in correlation with sex and plumage color in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in China. We analyzed a total of 297 blood samples, out of which 234 chickens tested positive for haemosporidian parasites, with 78.5% parasite prevalence. Out of 139 males, 118 tested positive with 84.8% parasite prevalence while 116 of 158 female samples tested positive (73.4%). Leucocytotozoon was the most frequent genus isolated (193 infected individuals /234 birds), followed by Plasmodium (41 infected individuals/234 birds), with no Haemoproteus parasites being detected. There were no significant differences in the body parameters and chicken color plumages with regards to the infection status. Our study indicated that blood parasite infection was significantly different between male and female chickens, with infection prevalent in males.
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24
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Kailing MJ, Hoyt JR, White JP, Kaarakka HM, Redell JA, Leon AE, Rocke TE, DePue JE, Scullon WH, Parise KL, Foster JT, Kilpatrick AM, Langwig KE. Sex-biased infections scale to population impacts for an emerging wildlife disease. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230040. [PMID: 36946110 PMCID: PMC10031401 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Demographic factors are fundamental in shaping infectious disease dynamics. Aspects of populations that create structure, like age and sex, can affect patterns of transmission, infection intensity and population outcomes. However, studies rarely link these processes from individual to population-scale effects. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying demographic differences in disease are frequently unclear. Here, we explore sex-biased infections for a multi-host fungal disease of bats, white-nose syndrome, and link disease-associated mortality between sexes, the distortion of sex ratios and the potential mechanisms underlying sex differences in infection. We collected data on host traits, infection intensity and survival of five bat species at 42 sites across seven years. We found females were more infected than males for all five species. Females also had lower apparent survival over winter and accounted for a smaller proportion of populations over time. Notably, female-biased infections were evident by early hibernation and likely driven by sex-based differences in autumn mating behaviour. Male bats were more active during autumn which likely reduced replication of the cool-growing fungus. Higher disease impacts in female bats may have cascading effects on bat populations beyond the hibernation season by limiting recruitment and increasing the risk of Allee effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macy J Kailing
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Joseph R Hoyt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - J Paul White
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA
| | | | | | - Ariel E Leon
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Tonie E Rocke
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - John E DePue
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baraga, MI 49908, USA
| | | | - Katy L Parise
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - A Marm Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Kate E Langwig
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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25
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Parejo-Pulido D, Mora-Rubio C, Marzal A, Magallanes S. Molecular characterization of haemosporidian and haemogregarine diversity in southwestern Iberian amphibians and reptiles. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1139-1149. [PMID: 36933067 PMCID: PMC10097751 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07814-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of the diversity and geographic distribution of parasite species is the first step towards understanding processes of global epidemiology and species conservation. Despite recent increases in research on haemosporidian and haemogregarine parasites of reptiles and amphibians, we still know little about their diversity and parasite-host interactions, especially in the Iberian Peninsula, where a few studies have been conducted. In this study, the haemosporidian and haemogregarine diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the parasites in southwestern Iberian amphibians and reptiles were assessed using PCR approaches on blood samples of 145 individuals from five amphibian and 13 reptile species. The amphibians did not present any of both groups of parasites studied. Regarding reptiles, five Hepatozoon, one Haemogregarina, and one Haemocystidum haplotypes were found infecting four different species, revealing new host records for these parasites. Among them, we found one new Haemocystidium haplotype and three new and a previously reported Hepatozoon haplotype from a north African snake. The latter finding suggests that some Hepatozoon parasites may not be host-specific and have large geographic ranges even crossing geographical barriers. These results increased the knowledge about the geographic distribution and the number of known host species of some reptile apicomplexan parasites, highlighting the great unexplored diversity of them in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Parejo-Pulido
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Departamento de Anatomía Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Departamento de Anatomía Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.,Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Jr. Maynas 1777, 22021, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Departamento de Anatomía Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain. .,Department of Wetland Ecology (EBD-CSIC), Estación Biológica de Doñana, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Seville, Spain.
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26
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Bronikowski AM, Hedrick AR, Kutz GA, Holden KG, Reinke B, Iverson JB. Sex-specific innate immunity and ageing in long-lived fresh water turtles (Kinosternon flavescens: Kinosternidae). Immun Ageing 2023; 20:11. [PMID: 36894996 PMCID: PMC9997018 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00335-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The progressive deregulation of the immune system with age, termed immunosenescence, has been well studied in mammalian systems, but studies of immune function in long-lived, wild, non-mammalian populations are scarce. In this study we leverage a 38-year mark-recapture study to quantify the relationships among age, sex, survival, reproductive output and the innate immune system in a long-lived reptile, yellow mud turtles (Kinosternon flavescens; Testudines; Kinosternidae). METHODS We estimated rates of survival and age-specific mortality by sex based on mark-recapture data for 1530 adult females and 860 adult males over 38 years of captures. We analyzed bactericidal competence (BC), and two immune responses to foreign red blood cells - natural antibody-mediated haemagglutination (NAbs), and complement-mediated haemolysis ability (Lys) - in 200 adults (102 females; 98 males) that ranged from 7 to 58 years of age captured in May 2018 during their emergence from brumation, and for which reproductive output and long-term mark-recapture data were available. RESULTS We found that females are smaller and live longer than males in this population, but the rate of accelerating mortality across adulthood is the same for both sexes. In contrast, males exhibited higher innate immunity than females for all three immune variables we measured. All immune responses also varied inversely with age, indicating immunosenescence. For females that reproduced in the preceding reproductive season, egg mass (and therefore total clutch mass) increased with age,. In addition to immunosenescence of bactericidal competence, females that produced smaller clutches also had lower bactericidal competence. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to the general vertebrate pattern of lower immune responses in males than females (possibly reflecting the suppressive effects of androgens), we found higher levels of all three immune variables in males. In addition, contrary to previous work that found no evidence of immunosenescence in painted turtles or red-eared slider turtles, we found a decrease in bactericidal competence, lysis ability, and natural antibodies with age in yellow mud turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. .,Department of Integrative Biology, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, 3700 E. Gull Lake Rd., Hickory Corners, MI, 49060, USA.
| | - Ashley R Hedrick
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Greta A Kutz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Holden
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Beth Reinke
- Department of Biology, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, 60625, USA
| | - John B Iverson
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, 47374, USA.
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Wolf SE, Zhang S, Clotfelter ED. Experimental ectoparasite removal has a sex-specific effect on nestling telomere length. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9861. [PMID: 36911306 PMCID: PMC9992774 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites are a strong selective force that can influence fitness-related traits. The length of chromosome-capping telomeres can be used to assess the long-term costs of parasitism, as telomere loss accelerates in response to environmental stressors and often precedes poorer survival prospects. Here, we explored the sex-specific effects of ectoparasite removal on morphology and telomere length in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). To do so, we experimentally removed blow fly (Protocalliphora spp.) larvae from nests using Permethrin, a broad-spectrum insecticide. Compared to water-treated controls, insecticide treatment of nests had a sex-biased effect on blood telomere length: ectoparasite removal resulted in significantly longer telomeres in males but not females. While this treatment did not influence nestling body mass, it was associated with reduced feather development regardless of sex. This may reflect a relaxed pressure to fledge quickly in the absence of parasites, or alternatively, could be a negative side effect of permethrin on morphology. Exploring robust sex-specific telomere dynamics in response to early-life environmental pressures such as parasitism will shed light on sexual dimorphism in adult life histories and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology Indiana University Bloomington Indiana USA.,Department of Biobehavioral Health Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Samuel Zhang
- Department of Biology Amherst College Amherst Massachusetts USA
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Wallace KME, Hart DW, Hagenah N, Ganswindt A, Bennett NC. A comprehensive profile of reproductive hormones in eusocial Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 333:114194. [PMID: 36538992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In species where sociality and group cohesion are primarily determined by the maintenance of a reproductive division of labour and cooperative behaviours, the eusocial Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) presents a model which provides behavioural and endocrine distinctions between sex (males and females) and reproductive class (breeders and non-breeders). Although previous studies have demonstrated the endocrine aspects of reproductive suppression and behaviour in Damaraland mole-rats, they have focused on one hormone separately and on different conspecifics and samples across time. Unfortunately, this could introduce extrinsic biases when using these studies to compile complete hormonal profiles for comparisons. This study, therefore, set out to obtain a profile of the reproductive hormones from breeding and non-breeding male and female Damaraland mole-rats at a single point in time, from which circulating plasma prolactin and urinary progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol were measured. As expected, plasma prolactin and urinary cortisol did not differ between the breeders and non-breeders. However, breeders (both male and female) possessed increased urinary testosterone and progesterone concentrations compared to their non-breeding counterparts. These results, in conjunction with the variation in the expression of the respective hormonal receptors within the brains of breeders and non-breeders suggest that elevated testosterone and progesterone in breeders establish a neural dominance phenotype, which ultimately aids in controlling breeding activities. This study has emphasised the need for holistic, comprehensive profiling of reproductive endocrine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra M E Wallace
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
| | - Daniel W Hart
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Nicole Hagenah
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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Intan PR, Noviantari A. Response to Article "Evaluation of the Anti-Malarial Activity of the Crude Root Extract and Solvent Fraction of Sesamum indicum (Fabaceae)" [Letter]. J Exp Pharmacol 2023; 15:215-216. [PMID: 37162809 PMCID: PMC10164382 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s418029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Putri Reno Intan
- Center for Biomedical Research, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong - Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
- Correspondence: Putri Reno Intan, Center for Biomedical Research, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Genomic Building, Cibinong Science Center, Jalan Raya Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong - Bogor, West Java, 16911, Indonesia, Email
| | - Ariyani Noviantari
- Center for Biomedical Research, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong - Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
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Er-Lukowiak M, Hansen C, Lotter H. Sex Difference in Amebiasis. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 441:209-224. [PMID: 37695430 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-35139-6_8] [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] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is much more likely to cause severe, focal liver damage in males than females, although the infection rate is the same in both sexes. The differences in disease susceptibility may be due to modulation of key mechanisms of the innate immune response by sex hormones. Complement-mediated mechanisms and estrogen-dependent activated natural killer T cells lead to early elimination of the parasite in females, whereas a pathological immune axis is triggered in males. Testosterone, which is generally thought to have more immunosuppressive properties on cells of the immune response, leads to overwhelming activation of monocytes and host-dependent destruction of liver tissue in males resulting in worse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Er-Lukowiak
- Department Interface - RG Molecular Infection Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Hansen
- Department Interface - RG Molecular Infection Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Lotter
- Department Interface - RG Molecular Infection Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
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Bisterfeld K, Raulf MK, Waindok P, Springer A, Lang J, Lierz M, Siebert U, Strube C. Cardio-pulmonary parasites of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Germany. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:452. [PMID: 36471378 PMCID: PMC9724372 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last years, research on feline cardio-pulmonary parasites has considerably increased in Europe. Not only domestic cats (Felis catus), but also European wildcats (Felis silvestris) can serve as definitive hosts for these nematodes. The F. silvestris population in Germany has been growing rapidly within the last decades; therefore, the assessment of its cardio-pulmonary parasite status is of importance to unravel whether the wildcat population serves as a substantial reservoir for these nematodes and might pose a health threat to domestic cats. METHODS As part of a nature conservation project for European wildcats in the German federal state Rhineland-Palatinate, lungs (n = 128) and hearts (n = 111) of 128 F. silvestris found dead were examined for cardio-pulmonary parasites. All isolated parasites were identified morphologically, and results were confirmed by molecular analysis of a total of 3-11 specimens of each worm species. RESULTS A total of 70.3% (90/128) wildcats were positive for at least one lungworm species. Angiostrongylus chabaudi was most common (53.1% [68/128]), followed by Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (42.2% [54/128]), Troglostrongylus brevior (31.3% [40/128]) and Capillaria spp. (3.1% [4/128]). Of note, about two-thirds of the infected wildcats harboured coinfections. Infection intensities ranged from 1 to 167 nematodes per wildcat. Generalised linear models revealed a strong correlation between A. chabaudi and A. abstrusus infection, and prevalences were higher in adult than in younger wildcats, except for T. brevior. Moreover, the T. brevior prevalence varied significantly with nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that feline cardio-pulmonary nematodes are common parasites in European wildcats in Germany but do not appear to have a serious impact on the overall health of the population. Due to presumed spillover events via prey, cardio-pulmonary nematodes may circulate between the wildcat population and domestic cats and might therefore pose a health risk to individual domestic cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Bisterfeld
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany ,grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Marie-Kristin Raulf
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Patrick Waindok
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Johannes Lang
- grid.8664.c0000 0001 2165 8627Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Lierz
- grid.8664.c0000 0001 2165 8627Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 114, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- grid.412970.90000 0001 0126 6191Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.
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Wesołowska A. Sex—the most underappreciated variable in research: insights from helminth-infected hosts. Vet Res 2022; 53:94. [PMID: 36397174 PMCID: PMC9672581 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex of a host affects the intensity, prevalence, and severity of helminth infection. In many cases, one sex has been found to be more susceptible than the other, with the prevalence and intensity of helminth infections being generally higher among male than female hosts; however, many exceptions exist. This observed sex bias in parasitism results primarily from ecological, behavioural, and physiological differences between males and females. Complex interactions between these influences modulate the risk of infection. Indeed, an interplay among sex hormones, sex chromosomes, the microbiome and the immune system significantly contributes to the generation of sex bias among helminth-infected hosts. However, sex hormones not only can modulate the course of infection but also can be exploited by the parasites, and helminths appear to have developed molecules and pathways for this purpose. Furthermore, host sex may influence the efficacy of anti-helminth vaccines; however, although little data exist regarding this sex-dependent efficacy, host sex is known to influence the response to vaccines. Despite its importance, host sex is frequently overlooked in parasitological studies. This review focuses on the key contributors to sex bias in the case of helminth infection. The precise nature of the mechanisms/factors determining these sex-specific differences generally remains largely unknown, and this represents an obstacle in the development of control methods. There is an urgent need to identify any protective elements that could be targeted in future therapies to provide optimal disease management with regard to host sex. Hence, more research is needed into the impact of host sex on immunity and protection.
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Fusco D, Martínez-Pérez GZ, Remkes A, De Pascali AM, Ortalli M, Varani S, Scagliarini A. A sex and gender perspective for neglected zoonotic diseases. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1031683. [PMID: 36338031 PMCID: PMC9632621 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1031683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fusco
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Daniela Fusco
| | | | - Aaron Remkes
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alessandra Mistral De Pascali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Ortalli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Varani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Scagliarini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Pugliese M, Falcone A, Alibrandi A, Zirilli A, Passantino A. Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9100554. [PMID: 36288167 PMCID: PMC9608742 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9100554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The decision to request and proceed with euthanasia in a dog is complex and predictors of such decisions are important. This study investigates the risk factors (demographic and clinical) associated with the main clinical causes and methods of death (euthanasia or unassisted death) in a population of dogs. By comparing euthanasia to unassisted deaths, the authors assess causes of death to evaluate their relative impacts on decision-making to choose euthanasia compared with an unassisted death. For this, goal data from electronic medical records of dogs who had died (unassisted death and euthanasia), obtained from an Italian referral veterinary teaching hospital from 2010 to 2020, were analyzed. The causes of death were categorized by pathophysiological process and the organ system. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that significantly affect the probability of undergoing euthanasia and to individuate independent significant predictors of euthanasia and unassisted death, respectively. Death rate by euthanasia was 40.7% (125/307), by died unassisted 50.8% (156/307), whilst only 8.5% of dogs (26/307) died accidentally. The main causes of death for euthanasia were due to neoplastic (75.6%), degenerative (64.3%), and congenital (60%) diseases. Furthermore, the findings reveal that in deaths by euthanasia, the significant risk predictors were female gender, age, and neoplastic and degenerative processes; while in unassisted deaths, the significant risk predictors were male gender, age, and infection/inflammatory conditions. These preliminary outcomes highlight the information of this study which may be used to evaluate strategic interventions and health promotion strategies to be implemented, with consequent welfare gains for the canine population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Pugliese
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Annastella Falcone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Angela Alibrandi
- Unit of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Agata Zirilli
- Unit of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Annamaria Passantino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-90-676-6742
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Félix Vélez NE, Gorashi RM, Aguado BA. Chemical and molecular tools to probe biological sex differences at multiple length scales. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:7089-7098. [PMID: 36043366 PMCID: PMC9632480 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb00871h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Biological sex differences are observed at multiple different length scales and across organ systems. Gaps in knowledge remain regarding our understanding of how molecular, cellular, and environmental factors contribute to physiological sex differences. Here, we provide our perspective on how chemical and molecular tools can be leveraged to explore sex differences in biology at the molecular, intracellular, extracellular, tissue, and organ length scales. We provide examples where chemical and molecular tools were used to explore sex differences in the cardiovascular, nervous, immune, and reproductive systems. We also provide a future outlook where chemical and molecular tools can be applied to continue investigating sex differences in biology, with the ultimate goal of addressing inequities in biomedical research and approaches to clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Félix Vélez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rayyan M Gorashi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brian A Aguado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Conga DF, Bizri HRE, Crespo CG, Gomez-Puerta LA, Ulloa-Urizar GM, Pérez-Peña PE, Bowler M, Mayor P. Environmental predictors of filarial infection in Amazonian primates. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106670. [PMID: 36037980 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Filarial nematode infections are common in primates, but have received little attention in the Neotropics. Epidemiological data on filarial infections in primates are still too sparse to fully understand the complex of this parasitism, especially because of the difficulty in studying the ecology and epidemiology of wild primates.. We describe natural infections by Dipetalonema parasitizing 211 primates belonging to eight free-living primate genera in Amazonia, and assess the relationships between parasitic indicators and climatic (rainfall and river level), ecological (fruiting periods of plants) and biological (sex, species' body mass, group size and density) factors. The overall prevalence was 64.4% (95% CI: 64.0 - 64.9); parasitic mean abundance (N filariae per individual) and parasitic mean intensity (N filariae per infected host) of infection were 11.9 (95% CI: 8.3 - 15.6) and 18.4 (95% CI: 13.4 - 23.4) filariae/individual, respectively. Although we observed differences in parasitic parameters among primate genera, there was no correlation between parasitic parameters with density, body mass or group size. Sapajus, Cebus and Lagothrix had the highest prevalence and parasitic mean intensity. Using Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii, the most sampled species (n = 92), as a model, we found that the number of filariae per infected host was associated with fruit production in swamp forests during the dry season, the time of food scarcity. The long periods of food shortage may cause environmental stress on primates, impairing their immune defenses and leading to increased parasite load but not affecting infection prevalence. However, the lack of information on vector ecology, key to understand risk factors associated to infection rate, prevents confirming the existence of an infection pattern dependent on food availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- David F Conga
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA), Av. Presidente Tancredo Neves 2501, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém-Pará, Brazil
| | - Hani R El Bizri
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (IDSM), Estrada do Bexiga 2584, Fonte Boa, 69553-225, Tefé-Amazonas, Brazil; Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University. Oxford Road, M15 6BH, Manchester, United Kingdom; Comunidad de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre en la Amazonía y en Latinoamérica (COMFAUNA), 332 Malecon Tarapaca, Iquitos, Peru; Rede de Pesquisa sobre Diversidade, Conservação e Uso da Fauna na Amazônia (RedeFauna), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Carlos González Crespo
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Luis A Gomez-Puerta
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Gabriela M Ulloa-Urizar
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA), Av. Presidente Tancredo Neves 2501, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém-Pará, Brazil; Laboratorio de Microbiología y Genómica Bacteriana, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Pedro E Pérez-Peña
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana, Av. Jose A. Quiñones km 2.5, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru
| | - Mark Bowler
- School of Engineering, Arts, Science and Technology Science, University of Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ, UK; Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California, CA 92027-9614, USA; Suffolk Sustainability Institute, Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ, UK
| | - Pedro Mayor
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA), Av. Presidente Tancredo Neves 2501, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém-Pará, Brazil; Comunidad de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre en la Amazonía y en Latinoamérica (COMFAUNA), 332 Malecon Tarapaca, Iquitos, Peru; Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, E-08193 Bellaterra-Barcelona, Spain; Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas, Loreto, Iquitos, Peru.
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Drivers of the Ectoparasite Community and Co-Infection Patterns in Rural and Urban Burrowing Owls. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081141. [PMID: 36009768 PMCID: PMC9405203 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary We analyzed the ectoparasite community of a monomorphic and non-social bird, the burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia, breeding in rural and urban habitats. Such community was composed by two lice, one mite and one flea species. Rural individuals had more fleas and less mites than urban ones. Adult birds harbored less ectoparasites than young ones and females harbored more lice than males. The presence of lice was positively related to the presence of fleas. On the contrary, the presence of mites was negatively related to the presence of fleas and lice. The study of parasite communities in urban and rural populations of the same species can shed light on how urban stressor factors impact the physiology of wildlife inhabiting cities and, therefore, the host-parasite relationships. Abstract Urbanization creates new ecological conditions that can affect biodiversity at all levels, including the diversity and prevalence of parasites of species that may occupy these environments. However, few studies have compared bird–ectoparasite interactions between urban and rural individuals. Here, we analyze the ectoparasite community and co-infection patterns of urban and rural burrowing owls, Athene cunicularia, to assess the influence of host traits (i.e., sex, age, and weight), and environmental factors (i.e., number of conspecifics per nest, habitat type and aridity) on its composition. Ectoparasites of burrowing owls included two lice, one flea, and one mite. The overall prevalence for mites, lice and fleas was 1.75%, 8.76% and 3.50%, respectively. A clear pattern of co-infection was detected between mites and fleas and, to less extent, between mites and lice. Adult owls harbored fewer ectoparasites than nestlings, and adult females harbored more lice than males. Our results also show that mite and flea numbers were higher when more conspecifics cohabited the same burrow, while lice showed the opposite pattern. Rural individuals showed higher flea parasitism and lower mite parasitism than urban birds. Moreover, mite numbers were negatively correlated with aridity and host weight. Although the ectoparasitic load of burrowing owls appears to be influenced by individual age, sex, number of conspecifics per nest, and habitat characteristics, the pattern of co-infection found among ectoparasites could also be mediated by unexplored factors such as host immune response, which deserves further research.
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Shi W, Jiang Y, Wang Y, Zhang C, Yu T, Li T. The Diagnostic Value of Various Inflammatory Biomarkers for Diagnosing Periprosthetic Joint Infection is Gender-Specific. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:3975-3982. [PMID: 35860231 PMCID: PMC9291658 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s364309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Previous studies have suggested that the diagnostic biomarkers of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are largely influenced by gender. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of traditional inflammatory biomarkers, fibrinolytic biomarkers (fibrinogen and D-dimer), and C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin for PJI in different genders. Methods A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on revision total hip or knee arthroplasty between June 2013 to June 2021, and the study included 80 patients in the PJI group and 136 patients in the non-PJI group. PJI was diagnosed based on the International Consensus Meeting (ICM) in 2018. The levels of CRP, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer, and albumin count were determined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Youden's index were used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of various biomarkers. Results The levels of CRP, fibrinogen, D-dimer, ESR, and CRP/albumin were significantly higher in the PJI group (P < 0.001). In PJI of females, the predictive value of CRP was the highest among the five biomarkers, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98. The optimal predictive cut-off for CRP was 8.86 mg/L, with a sensitivity and specificity of 90.2% and 95.7%, respectively. When combined with the other four biomarkers, the AUC of CRP was 0.98, 0.99, 0.98, and 0.99, respectively. In PJI of males, the predictive value of ESR was the highest among the five biomarkers, with an AUC of 0.92. The optimal predictive cut-off for ESR was 14.50 mm/h, with a sensitivity and specificity of 84.6% and 86.6%, respectively. When combined with the other four biomarkers, the AUC of ESR was 0.95, 0.94, 0.93, and 0.97, respectively. Conclusion CRP and ESR were excellent biomarkers for diagnosing PJI in female and male patients, respectively, and their combined use with CPR/albumin could provide higher diagnostic value in different genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weipeng Shi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.,Medical Department of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaping Jiang
- Department of Oral Implantology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingzhen Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Cailong Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Tengbo Yu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
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Gastrointestinal parasites in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) hunted in Spain: a warning to game managers. Vet Res Commun 2022; 46:1051-1062. [PMID: 35796856 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-09968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) populations are currently declining in the Iberian Peninsula, mainly due to habitat degradation and hunting pressure. In addition, the release of farm-reared partridges may introduce pathogens, including parasites, to wild populations. The presence of digestive parasites in red-legged partridges hunted in fifteen Spanish provinces was studied. Fecal samples and gastrointestinal tracts were collected, analyzed, and the morphometric identification of parasites was carried out. Eimeria spp. oocysts, nematode, cestode and trematode eggs were observed in fecal samples. Adult nematodes (Ascaridia galli, Ascaridia compar, Heterakis gallinarum, Heterakis tenuicauda, Trichostrongylus tenuis, Subulura spp., Cyrnea spp. and Aonchotheca caudinflata), tapeworms (Raillietina tetragona, R. echinobothrida, R. micracantha, Rhabdometra nigropunctata, and Choanotaenia infundibulum), and trematodes (Brachylaima spp., Brachylecithum spp., Dicrocoelium spp.) were identified in the gastrointestinal tracts. Significant statistical differences were found among climatic regions in the prevalence and intensity of Eimeria spp. infection, median intensity and the prevalence of indirect life cycle helminths, with Southern areas always showing higher infection values. The study provides information of the health status of red-legged partridges in Spain, highlighting the risk associated with the release of farm-reared partridges for restocking purposes. This should be taken into account to improve management strategies for the long-term conservation of the species.
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Perles L, de Macedo GC, Barreto WTG, Francisco GV, Herrera HM, Barros-Battesti DM, Machado RZ, André MR. Longitudinal dynamics and health impact of Hepatozoon procyonis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) on naturally infected ring-tailed coatis Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) from Midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101982. [PMID: 35716428 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to morphologically and molecularly detect Hepatozoon procyonis in ring-tailed coatis' (Nasua nasua) blood and associated ticks from central-western Brazil, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state and also evaluate the impact of the protozoa in blood parameters and coati´s health. Samplings were performed in a conservation area Parque Estadual do Prosa (PEP) and in a Brazilian Air Force Private Area namely Vila da Base Aérea (VBA), between March 2018 and April 2019. We collected 165 blood samples, 61 from recaptured coatis. Peripheral blood smears were stained with Romanovsky-type stain for H. procyonis parasitemia assessment. DNA extracted from blood samples and ticks (Amblyomma spp.) were submitted to a nested PCR (nPCR) assay based on the 18S rRNA gene for Hepatozoon spp. Out of 104 individuals sampled, 80 (77%) were positive for H. procyonis in at least one capture. Overall, 67/165 (40.6%) blood smears showed H. procyonis gametocytes (PEP: 41/63 - 65%; VBA: 26/102 - 25.5%). Parasitemia based on 500 assessed leucocytes ranged from 1 (0.2%) to 50 (10%) and 1 (0.2%) to 25 (5%), from animals sampled in PEP and VBA, respectively. Fluctuation on the parasitemia was observed during recaptures. nPCR results showed higher positivity when compared to blood smears, i.e. 112/165 (68%) positive blood samples [PEP: 41/63 (65%), VBA: 26/102 (25.5%)]. In total, 63/248 (25.4%) tick DNA samples were positive at nPCR for Hepatozoon sp., including 32/87 (37%) pools (1 to 10 larvae) of Amblyomma larvae, 21/105 (20%) pools (1 to 5 nymphs) of Amblyomma sculptum nymphs, 9/43 (21%) pools (1 to 5 nymphs) of Amblyomma dubitatumnymphs, and 1/12 (8%) A. sculptum adult female. The partial 18S rRNA sequence from one coati's blood sample and one representative of each positive tick species randomly selected from each area for sequencing (1,000 bp) showed 100% identity with sequences of H. procyonis from GenBank previously detected in coatis. Regarding H. procyonis infection, no statistical differences were obtained when comparing males vs. females (p-value 0.67), immature animals vs. adults (p-value 0.31), rainy vs. dry season (p-value 0.51) and sampling location (p-value 0.42). No noticeable alteration in blood parameters or heath status was observed in parasite animals. H. procyonis circulates in a high prevalence in coatis from central-western Brazil. Parasitemia fluctuates among different coatis' recaptures and apparently the infection has no influence in coatis' hematological and clinical parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Perles
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - G C de Macedo
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande 13471-410, MS, Brazil
| | - W T G Barreto
- Post Graduation Program of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - G V Francisco
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - H M Herrera
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande 13471-410, MS, Brazil; Post Graduation Program of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - D M Barros-Battesti
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - R Z Machado
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - M R André
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
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Moeser AJ, Roney A, Fardisi M, Thelen K. Biological sex: an understudied factor driving disease susceptibility in pigs. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6609153. [PMID: 35708590 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological sex is a major host factor influencing risk for infectious disease-associated mortality, and chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Research in human and rodent models -has revealed sex differences that exist across organ systems during health and disease that may contribute to sex biases in disease risk. Despite the robust and growing literature on the role of sex as a risk factor in human disease, comparatively little attention has been focused on investigating the role of biological sex in disease susceptibility in agriculturally important animal populations such as the pig. To date, comparisons between sexes have focused on carcass composition, growth rate, and feed efficiency in pigs. However, there is a large gap in the literature regarding the effects of biological sex on other integral aspects of health and disease. The objective of this review is to highlight the available literature reporting sex differences in pig health and biology with an emphasis on sex differences in mortality, immunity, and gastrointestinal (GI) physiology and to address biological sex as a significant biological variable in disease risk and research study design. A basic overview of the biology of sex differences including the major hormonal and genetic/chromosomal mechanisms of sexual differentiation and the developmental periods in which sex differences emerge will be covered. This review will also discuss how production-relevant management and environmental factors (e.g., wean age, castration, stress, and nutrition) interact with biological sex to shape host immune and GI development and function. Perceived gaps in knowledge and areas of future research will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Moeser
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Andrew Roney
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Mahsa Fardisi
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kyan Thelen
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Subedi S, Katz J, Erchick DJ, Verhulst A, Khatry SK, Mullany LC, Tielsch JM, LeClerq SC, Christian P, West KP, Guillot M. Does higher early neonatal mortality in boys reverse over the neonatal period? A pooled analysis from three trials of Nepal. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056112. [PMID: 35589346 PMCID: PMC9121405 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neonatal mortality is generally 20% higher in boys than girls due to biological phenomena. Only a few studies have examined more finely categorised age patterns of neonatal mortality by sex, especially in the first few days of life. The objective of this study is to examine sex differentials in neonatal mortality by detailed ages in a low-income setting. DESIGN This is a secondary observational analysis of data. SETTING Rural Sarlahi district, Nepal. PARTICIPANTS Neonates born between 1999 and 2017 in three randomised controlled trials. OUTCOME MEASURES We calculated study-specific and pooled mortality rates for boys and girls by ages (0-1, 1-3, 3-7, 7-14, 14-21 and 21-28 days) and estimated HR using Cox proportional hazards models for male versus female mortality for treatment and control groups together (n=59 729). RESULTS Neonatal mortality was higher in boys than girls in individual studies: 44.2 vs 39.7 in boys and girls in 1999-2000; 30.0 vs 29.6 in 2002-2006; 33.4 vs 29.4 in 2010-2017; and 33.0 vs 30.2 in the pooled data analysis. Pooled data found that early neonatal mortality (HR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.30) was significantly higher in boys than girls. All individual datasets showed a reversal in mortality by sex after the third week of life. In the fourth week, a reversal was observed, with mortality in girls 2.43 times higher than boys (HR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.79). CONCLUSIONS Boys had higher mortality in the first week followed by no sex difference in weeks 2 and 3 and a reversal in risk in week 4, with girls dying at more than twice the rate of boys. This may be a result of gender discrimination and social norms in this setting. Interventions to reduce gender discrimination at the household level may reduce female neonatal mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT00115271, NCT00109616, NCT01177111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Subedi
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joanne Katz
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Joseph Erchick
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrea Verhulst
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Luke C Mullany
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James M Tielsch
- Global Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Steven C LeClerq
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project, Sarlahi, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Parul Christian
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Keith P West
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michel Guillot
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gildner TE, Cepon-Robins TJ, Urlacher SS. Cumulative host energetic costs of soil-transmitted helminth infection. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:629-641. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Tai YL, Lee YF, Kuo YM, Kuo YJ. Effects of host state and body condition on parasite infestation of bent-wing bats. Front Zool 2022; 19:12. [PMID: 35248083 PMCID: PMC8898463 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-022-00457-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ectoparasites inhabit the body surface or outgrowths of hosts and are usually detrimental to host health and wellbeing. Hosts, however, vary in quality and may lead ectoparasites to aggregate on preferred hosts, resulting in a heterogeneous distribution of parasite load among hosts.
Results We set out to examine the effects of host individual state and body condition on the parasite load of multiple nycteribiid and streblid bat flies and Spinturnix wing mites on eastern bent-wing bats Miniopterus fuliginosus in a tropical forest in southern Taiwan. We detected a high parasite prevalence of 98.9% among the sampled bats, with nearly 75% of the bats harboring three or more species of parasites. The parasite abundance was higher in the wet season from mid spring to early fall, coinciding with the breeding period of female bats, than in the dry winter season. In both seasonal periods, the overall parasite abundance of adult females was higher than that of adult males. Among the bats, reproductive females, particularly lactating females, exhibited a higher body condition and were generally most infested. The Penicillidia jenynsii and Nycteribia parvula bat flies showed a consistent female-biased infection pattern. The N. allotopa and Ascodipteron speiserianum flies, however, showed a tendency towards bats of a moderate to higher body condition, particularly reproductive females and adult males. Conclusions We found an overall positive correlation between parasite abundance and reproductive state and body condition of the host and female-biased parasitism for M. fuliginosus bats. However, the effects of body condition and female-biased infestation appear to be parasite species specific, and suggest that the mobility, life history, and potential inter-species interactions of the parasites may all play important roles.
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Nava-Castro KE, Pavón L, Becerril-Villanueva LE, Ponce-Regalado MD, Aguilar-Díaz H, Segovia-Mendoza M, Morales-Montor J. Sexual Dimorphism of the Neuroimmunoendocrine Response in the Spleen during a Helminth Infection: A New Role for an Old Player? Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030308. [PMID: 35335632 PMCID: PMC8955289 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems is crucial in maintaining homeostasis in vertebrates, and vital in mammals. The spleen is a key organ that regulates the neuroimmunoendocrine system. The Taenia crassiceps mouse system is an excellent experimental model to study the complex host–parasite relationship, particularly sex-associated susceptibility to infection. The present study aimed to determine the changes in neurotransmitters, cytokines, sex steroids, and sex-steroid receptors in the spleen of cysticercus-infected male and female mice and whole parasite counts. We found that parasite load was higher in females in comparison to male mice. The levels of the neurotransmitter epinephrine were significantly decreased in infected male animals. The expression of IL-2 and IL-4 in the spleen was markedly increased in infected mice; however, the expression of Interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ decreased. We also observed sex-associated differences between non-infected and infected mice. Interestingly, the data show that estradiol levels increased in infected males but decreased in females. Our studies provide evidence that infection leads to changes in neuroimmunoendocrine molecules in the spleen, and these changes are dimorphic and impact the establishment, growth, and reproduction of T. crassiceps. Our findings support the critical role of the neuroimmunoendocrine network in determining sex-associated susceptibility to the helminth parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Elizabeth Nava-Castro
- Laboratorio de Biología y Química Atmosférica, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico;
| | - Lenin Pavón
- Laboratory of Psychoimmunology, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Mexico City 14370, Mexico; (L.P.); (L.E.B.-V.)
| | - Luis Enrique Becerril-Villanueva
- Laboratory of Psychoimmunology, National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Mexico City 14370, Mexico; (L.P.); (L.E.B.-V.)
| | - María Dolores Ponce-Regalado
- Centro Universitario de los Altos, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco 47610, Mexico;
| | - Hugo Aguilar-Díaz
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Disciplinarias en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Morelos 50550, Mexico;
| | - Mariana Segovia-Mendoza
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 00810, Mexico;
| | - Jorge Morales-Montor
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-55-5622-3854 or +52-55-5622-3732; Fax: +52-55-5622-3369
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Cutrera AP, Luna F, Zenuto RR. Acute-Phase Immune Response Involves Fever, Sickness Behavior, and an Elevated Metabolic Rate in the Subterranean Rodent Ctenomys talarum. Physiol Biochem Zool 2022; 95:183-199. [PMID: 35148257 DOI: 10.1086/718409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
AbstractThe acute-phase response (APR) is an induced innate response and may involve pronounced physiological and behavioral changes. One of the most common assays to study the APR involves the use of a lypopolysaccharide (LPS) from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we determined the energetic costs of the APR in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum, as well as the effects of the exposure to LPS on body temperature, body mass loss, and behavior in this species. Furthermore, we monitored levels of circulating endotoxin after LPS exposure. Our results suggest that in C. talarum, the APR is energetically costly, resulting in a 14% increase in metabolic rate. Animals exposed to LPS experienced a short-term thermal response, weight loss, and changes in their behavior that included more time spent resting and with their eyes totally or partially closed. However, the magnitude of the effects of LPS exposure varied between sexes and among animals. Also, there was a clear peak in circulating endotoxin levels in plasma 3 h postinjection (hpi) and a significant decrease of these levels 24 hpi, but peak endotoxin concentration values recorded were highly variable among animals. In light of these results, ecological determinants of immune function variation in tuco-tucos are discussed considering the roles of pace of life, habitat, and degree of pathogen exposure in these subterranean rodents.
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de Souza Jesus A, de Oliveira-Ramalho ML, El Bizri HR, Valsecchi J, Mayor P. Environmental and biological drivers of prevalence and number of eggs and oocysts of intestinal parasites in red howler monkeys from Central Amazonia. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/14219980-20210701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Host-parasite relationships can be directly affected by host’s biological aspects and environmental factors, which influence both the survival of infective forms and the incidence of parasites. However, logistical difficulties in accessing biological samples for parasitological studies makes the Amazon Forest into a poorly known region in relation to the dynamic of parasites of wild animals. Here, using 34 red howler monkeys’ biological samples donated by local subsistence hunters from two Amazon habitat types (white-water flooded forest and upland forest) as an opportune alternative, we detected four intestinal parasite taxa infecting this species (two nematodes – Trypanoxyuris sp. and Strongyloides sp., one protozoan – Entamoeba sp. –, and one not-identified trematode, the last just found for white-water flooded forest). Trypanoxyuris was the most prevalent intestinal parasite (56.5% at flooded forest and 54.5% at upland forest). There was no difference between habitat types or individual sex regarding the prevalence for any parasite taxa. On the other hand, we found a strong influence of seasonality, with increasing prevalence of all parasite taxa as the river water level increased. In terms of egg and cyst counts, we found a difference between sexes (females > males, p = 0.002) and habitat types (upland forest > white-water flooded forest, p = 0.02), and a positive relationship with river water level (p = 0.002). Although some of these parasite taxa can be shared between humans and howlers, further investigations are necessary to study the parasites taxonomy thoroughly and to assess the potential zoonotic cross-transmission of these pathogens to local people living in the Amazon. In this study, we unveiled a seasonal effect for howler monkeys’ intestinal parasites, that also might occur in other non-human primates of the Amazon. In addition, our results on periods of high risk of intestinal parasite infection are useful to estimate future impacts of climate change on host-parasite dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamélia de Souza Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém (Pará), Brasil
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia e Conservação de Primatas, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
- Rede de Pesquisapara Estudos sobre Diversidade, Conservação e Uso da Fauna na Amazônia (RedeFauna), Manaus (Amazonas), Brasil
| | - Miguell Lemos de Oliveira-Ramalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
- Centro de Estudos Superiores de Tefé/Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
| | - Hani R. El Bizri
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
- Rede de Pesquisapara Estudos sobre Diversidade, Conservação e Uso da Fauna na Amazônia (RedeFauna), Manaus (Amazonas), Brasil
- School of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
- Comunidad de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre en la Amazonía y en Latinoamérica (ComFauna), Iquitos (Loreto), Peru
| | - João Valsecchi
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Ecologia de Vertebrados Terrestres, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé (Amazonas), Brasil
- Rede de Pesquisapara Estudos sobre Diversidade, Conservação e Uso da Fauna na Amazônia (RedeFauna), Manaus (Amazonas), Brasil
| | - Pedro Mayor
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Produção Animal na Amazônia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém (Pará), Brasil
- Comunidad de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre en la Amazonía y en Latinoamérica (ComFauna), Iquitos (Loreto), Peru
- Departamento Sanidad y Anatomía Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Maier AG, Doerig C. “The sexy side of parasites” – how parasites influence host sex and how the sex of the host impacts parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 248:111462. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of Ticks on Ring-Tailed Coatis Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) in Two Urban Areas from Midwestern Brazil. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030293. [PMID: 35158617 PMCID: PMC8833741 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The knowledge of the dynamics of ticks in wild animals is essential for surveillance of tick-borne diseases. Coatis (Nasua nasua) are mammals that easily adapt to anthropized areas, favoring close contact with domestic animals and humans, favoring the exchange of ticks and tick-borne agents. The present study aimed to investigate the tick diversity on coatis from forest urban areas of midwestern Brazil, as well as the dynamics of ticks during the seasons of the year and the correlation between tick species and gender and age of the sampled coatis. Three tick species were identified parasitizing coatis from forested urban fragments, namely A. dubitatum nymphs, A. sculptum adults and nymphs, and A. ovale adults. After analyzing the obtained results, it is likely that coatis from anthropized areas present tick species diversity lower than those from natural landscapes. The mean intensity and prevalence of Amblyomma larvae and nymphs is similar among males and females as well as in immature and mature animals, which might reflect the gregarious behavior of coatis, since adult males live together with females and offspring outside and inside the mating season, forming large groups of individuals. Abstract Understanding the diversity and ecology of ectoparasites in wild animals is essential for surveillance of vector-borne diseases. Coatis (Nasua nasua) easily adapt to anthropized areas, favoring close contact with domestic animals and humans, with the possibility of exchange of ectoparasites and pathogens. The present study aimed to identify the diversity of ticks parasitizing coatis from forest urban areas of midwestern Brazil, to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of ticks during the seasons of the year, and to assess the correlation between tick species and gender and age of the sampled coatis. For this purpose, 103 coatis were captured in two Conservation areas, both located in Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Midwestern Brazil. The animals’ entire body was inspected for the presence of ectoparasites, and ticks were removed for taxonomic identification. In total, 168 captures were performed in both areas during the observational study considering the first capture and recaptures. In total, 2242 ticks were collected: 838 Amblyomma larvae, 1241 A. sculptum nymphs, and 150 A. dubitatum nymphs. Thirteen adult ticks were identified as three males and five females of A. sculptum and two males and three females of A. ovale. While a quantity of Amblyomma larvae was observed in the first months of the year (January, April and May), Amblyomma nymphs showed a higher quantity during the months of July, August, October and November. No statistical difference was observed when comparing mean intensity and prevalence of Amblyomma larvae, nymphs of A. sculptum and A. dubitatum between the two sampled areas, males vs. females and immature vs. mature animals. In conclusion, three tick species were identified parasitizing coatis from forested urban fragments in midwestern Brazil, namely A. dubitatum nymphs, A. sculptum adults and nymphs, and A. ovale adults. Coatis from anthropized areas seem to present tick species diversity lower than those from natural areas. The lack of statistical difference regarding mean intensity and prevalence of Amblyomma larvae and nymphs between males vs. females and immature vs. mature animals might have reflected the gregarious behavior of coatis, since adult males live together with females and offspring outside and inside the mating season, forming large groups of individuals.
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Fantozzi MC, Sanchez JP, Lareschi M, Beldomenico PM. Effects of host factors on the dynamics of fleas (Siphonaptera) in Sigmodontinae rodents (Cricetidae) from El Espinal Ecoregion, Argentina. Acta Trop 2022; 225:106177. [PMID: 34627759 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106177] [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: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the patterns of flea infestation in wild populations of eight Sigmodontinae rodent species: Akodon azarae, Calomys callidus, Calomys venustus, Holochilus chacarius, Necromys lasiurus, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Oxymycterus rufus. Rodents were captured in systematic trapping sessions carried out along 2 years at two localities from El Espinal Ecoregion, Argentina. Mean flea intensity, occurrence (presence/absence) of flea infestation, richness and diversity were compared for different ages, body condition, sex and rodent tribes (Akodontini, Oryzomyini and Phyllotini). A total of 376 fleas of the following species and subspecies were collected: Craneopsylla minerva wolffhuegeli, Polygenis (Neopolygenis) pradoi, Polygenis (Polygenis) axius axius, and Polygenis (Polygenis) byturus. The most important factor driving flea infestation was the rodent tribe, with Phyllotini showing the highest values of occurrence, abundance and species richness. Only C. m. wolffhuegeli was affected by the sex of the host. Age and body condition of the hosts did not affect flea infestation. Our results contribute to knowledge of the ecology of fleas on rodent hosts in El Espinal Ecoregion. The relevance of host taxonomy as driver of flea dynamics highlight the importance of considering host community structures at the time of studying the ecology of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cecilia Fantozzi
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET LITORAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral- CONICET, Argentina.
| | - Juliana P Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires-CITNOBA (CONICET-UNNOBA), Ruta Provincial 32Km3,5, 2700 Pergamino, Argentina.
| | - Marcela Lareschi
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CEPAVE (CCT CONICET La Plata-UNLP), Bv. 120 s/n e/ 60 y 61, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Pablo M Beldomenico
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET LITORAL), Universidad Nacional del Litoral- CONICET, Argentina.
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