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Hess JA, Eberhard ML, Segura-Lepe M, Grundner-Culemann K, Kracher B, Shryock J, Harrington J, Abraham D. A rodent model for Dirofilaria immitis, canine heartworm: parasite growth, development, and drug sensitivity in NSG mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:976. [PMID: 36653420 PMCID: PMC9849205 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27537-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Heartworm disease, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, remains a significant threat to canines and felines. The development of parasites resistant to macrocyclic lactones (ML) has created a significant challenge to the control of the infection. The goal of this study was to determine if mice lacking a functional immune response would be susceptible to D. immitis. Immunodeficient NSG mice were susceptible to the infection, sustaining parasites for at least 15 weeks, with infective third-stage larvae molting and developing into the late fourth-stage larvae. Proteomic analysis of host responses to the infection revealed a complex pattern of changes after infection, with at least some of the responses directed at reducing immune control mechanisms that remain in NSG mice. NSG mice were infected with isolates of D. immitis that were either susceptible or resistant to MLs, as a population. The susceptible isolate was killed by ivermectin whereas the resistant isolate had improved survivability, while both isolates were affected by moxidectin. It was concluded that D. immitis survives in NSG mice for at least 15 weeks. NSG mice provide an ideal model for monitoring host responses to the infection and for testing parasites in vivo for susceptibility to direct chemotherapeutic activity of new agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Hess
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jeffrey Shryock
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., 6498 Jade Road, Fulton, MO, USA
| | - John Harrington
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., 1730 Olympic Dr, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David Abraham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Garza JJ, Greiner SP, Bowdridge SA. Ovine vital neutrophil extracellular traps bind and impair Haemonchus contortus L3 in a breed-dependent manner. Parasite Immunol 2018; 40:e12572. [PMID: 29992577 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to characterize neutrophil response to Haemonchus contortus (Hc) in vitro using cells from parasite-resistant St. Croix (STC) and parasite-susceptible Suffolk (SUF) sheep. Neutrophils from Hc-primed and naive STC and SUF sheep were incubated with Hc larval antigen (HcLA), Hc worm antigen (HcWA) or complete media (CM). After HcLA exposure, neutrophils from STC and SUF formed extracellular traps composed of DNA. Stimulation with HcLA induced a 35-fold increase in extracellular DNA compared to CM controls. However, extracellular DNA was not found when neutrophils were cultured with HcWA. The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) in response to HcLA yields a low percentage of necrotic cells indicating a form of vital NETosis. Neutrophils from primed and naïve STC bound Hc L3 greater (93% and 68%) than SUF (78% and 45%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, STC neutrophils significantly reduced larval ATP levels compared to SUF neutrophils (0.05 μmol/L vs 0.1 μmol/L ATP, P < 0.001). These data indicate that ovine neutrophils bind, form vital NET and reduce ATP to Hc L3 in a breed and infection status-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier J Garza
- Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Scott P Greiner
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Scott A Bowdridge
- Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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