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Bontempi IA, Arias DG, Castro GV, Peverengo LM, Díaz GF, Allassia M, Greif G, Marcipar I. Improved serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma vivax infections in cattle reveals high infection rates in the livestock regions of Argentina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012020. [PMID: 38924064 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine trypanosomosis, caused by Trypanosoma vivax, currently affects cattle and has a significant economic impact in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The development of new diagnostic antigens is essential to improve and refine existing methods. Our study evaluated the efficacy of two recombinant antigens in detecting specific antibodies in cattle. These antigens are derivatives of an invariant surface glycoprotein (ISG) from T. vivax. A fraction of a previously described antigen (TvY486_0045500), designated TvISGAf, from an African strain was evaluated, and a new ISG antigen from an American isolate, TvISGAm, was identified. The two antigens were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli: TvISGAf was fused to the MBP-His-tag, and TvISGAm was obtained as a His-tag fused protein. An ELISA evaluation was conducted using these antigens on 149 positive and 63 negative bovine samples. The diagnostic performance was enhanced by the use of a combination of both antigens (referred to as TvISG-based ELISA), achieving a sensitivity of 89.6% and specificity of 93.8%. Following the validation of the TvISG-based ELISA, the seroprevalence of T. vivax infection in 892 field samples from cattle in the central region of Argentina was determined. The mean seroprevalence of T. vivax was 53%, with variation ranging from 21% to 69% among the six departments studied. These results support the use of the TvISG ELISA as a valuable serological tool for the detection and monitoring of T. vivax infection in cattle. Furthermore, we report for the first time the seroprevalence of T. vivax in Argentina, which highlights the widespread endemic nature of the disease in the region. In order to effectively manage the increasing spread of T. vivax in the vast livestock production areas of South America, it is essential to implement consistent surveillance programs and to adopt preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Alejandro Bontempi
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego Gustavo Arias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
- Cátedra de Bioquímica Básica de Macromoléculas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Graciela Verónica Castro
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Luz María Peverengo
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Genaro Francisco Díaz
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Martín Allassia
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Huésped Patógeno-UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Iván Marcipar
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Silvester E, Szoor B, Ivens A, Awuah-Mensah G, Gadelha C, Wickstead B, Matthews KR. A conserved trypanosomatid differentiation regulator controls substrate attachment and morphological development in Trypanosoma congolense. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011889. [PMID: 38408115 PMCID: PMC10919850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatid parasites undergo developmental regulation to adapt to the different environments encountered during their life cycle. In Trypanosoma brucei, a genome wide selectional screen previously identified a regulator of the protein family ESAG9, which is highly expressed in stumpy forms, a morphologically distinct bloodstream stage adapted for tsetse transmission. This regulator, TbREG9.1, has an orthologue in Trypanosoma congolense, despite the absence of a stumpy morphotype in that parasite species, which is an important cause of livestock trypanosomosis. RNAi mediated gene silencing of TcREG9.1 in Trypanosoma congolense caused a loss of attachment of the parasites to a surface substrate in vitro, a key feature of the biology of these parasites that is distinct from T. brucei. This detachment was phenocopied by treatment of the parasites with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which also promotes detachment in the insect trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata. RNAseq analysis revealed that TcREG9.1 silencing caused the upregulation of mRNAs for several classes of surface molecules, including transferrin receptor-like molecules, immunoreactive proteins in experimental bovine infections, and molecules related to those associated with stumpy development in T. brucei. Depletion of TcREG9.1 in vivo also generated an enhanced level of parasites in the blood circulation consistent with reduced parasite attachment to the microvasculature. The morphological progression to insect forms of the parasite was also perturbed. We propose a model whereby TcREG9.1 acts as a regulator of attachment and development, with detached parasites being adapted for transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Silvester
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Balazs Szoor
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair Ivens
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Awuah-Mensah
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Catarina Gadelha
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Wickstead
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Keith R. Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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3
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Desquesnes M, Sazmand A, Gonzatti M, Boulangé A, Bossard G, Thévenon S, Gimonneau G, Truc P, Herder S, Ravel S, Sereno D, Waleckx E, Jamonneau V, Jacquiet P, Jittapalapong S, Berthier D, Solano P, Hébert L. Diagnosis of animal trypanosomoses: proper use of current tools and future prospects. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:235. [PMID: 35761373 PMCID: PMC9238167 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05352-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable diagnostic tools are needed to choose the appropriate treatment and proper control measures for animal trypanosomoses, some of which are pathogenic. Trypanosoma cruzi, for example, is responsible for Chagas disease in Latin America. Similarly, pathogenic animal trypanosomoses of African origin (ATAO), including a variety of Trypanosoma species and subspecies, are currently found in Africa, Latin America and Asia. ATAO limit global livestock productivity and impact food security and the welfare of domestic animals. This review focusses on implementing previously reviewed diagnostic methods, in a complex epizootiological scenario, by critically assessing diagnostic results at the individual or herd level. In most cases, a single diagnostic method applied at a given time does not unequivocally identify the various parasitological and disease statuses of a host. These include “non-infected”, “asymptomatic carrier”, “sick infected”, “cured/not cured” and/or “multi-infected”. The diversity of hosts affected by these animal trypanosomoses and their vectors (or other routes of transmission) is such that integrative, diachronic approaches are needed that combine: (i) parasite detection, (ii) DNA, RNA or antigen detection and (iii) antibody detection, along with epizootiological information. The specificity of antibody detection tests is restricted to the genus or subgenus due to cross-reactivity with other Trypanosoma spp. and Trypanosomatidae, but sensitivity is high. The DNA-based methods implemented over the last three decades have yielded higher specificity and sensitivity for active infection detection in hosts and vectors. However, no single diagnostic method can detect all active infections and/or trypanosome species or subspecies. The proposed integrative approach will improve the prevention, surveillance and monitoring of animal trypanosomoses with the available diagnostic tools. However, further developments are required to address specific gaps in diagnostic methods and the sustainable control or elimination of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Desquesnes
- UMR INTERTRYP, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), 31076, Toulouse, France.,INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT), 23 chemin des Capelles, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 6517658978, Iran.
| | - Marisa Gonzatti
- Department of Cell Biology, Simón Bolívar University, Caracas, 1080, Venezuela
| | - Alain Boulangé
- INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.,Pierre Richet Institute, National Public Health Institute, BP 1500, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Géraldine Bossard
- INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Sophie Thévenon
- INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Geoffrey Gimonneau
- INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD , Dakar, Senegal.,National Laboratory for Livestock and Veterinary Research, Senegalese Institute on Agricultural Research (ISRA), BP 2057, Dakar, Hann, Senegal
| | - Philippe Truc
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stéphane Herder
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sophie Ravel
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Denis Sereno
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Regional Research Centre Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Autonomous University of Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | | | - Philippe Jacquiet
- National Veterinary School of Toulouse (ENVT), 23 chemin des Capelles, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | | | - David Berthier
- INTERTRYP, IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, 34398, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Solano
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Hébert
- Physiopathology & Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit (PhEED), Laboratory of Animal Health, Normandy Site, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Rd 675 Les Places, 14430, Goustranville, France
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4
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Tounkara M, Boulangé A, Thonnus M, Bringaud F, Bélem AMG, Bengaly Z, Thévenon S, Berthier D, Rivière L. Novel protein candidates for serodiagnosis of African animal trypanosomosis: Evaluation of the diagnostic potential of lysophospholipase and glycerol kinase from Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009985. [PMID: 34919562 PMCID: PMC8719729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomosis, a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by tsetse flies, affects both humans and animals in sub-Saharan Africa. While the human form (HAT) is now limited to foci, the animal form (AAT) is widespread and affects the majority of sub-Saharan African countries, and constitutes a real obstacle to the development of animal breeding. The control of AAT is hampered by a lack of standardized and easy-to used diagnosis tools. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of TbLysoPLA and TbGK proteins from Trypanosoma brucei brucei for AAT serodiagnosis in indirect ELISA using experimental and field sera, individually, in combination, and associated with the BiP C-terminal domain (C25) from T. congolense. These novel proteins were characterized in silico, and their sequence analysis showed strong identities with their orthologs in other trypanosomes (more than 60% for TbLysoPLA and more than 82% for TbGK). TbLysoPLA displays a low homology with cattle (<35%) and Piroplasma (<15%). However, TbGK shares more than 58% with cattle and between 45–55% with Piroplasma. We could identify seven predicted epitopes on TbLysoPLA sequence and 14 potential epitopes on TbGK. Both proteins were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. Their diagnostic potential was evaluated by ELISA with sera from cattle experimentally infected with T. congolense and with T.b. brucei, sera from cattle naturally infected with T. congolense, T. vivax and T.b. brucei. Both proteins used separately had poor diagnostic performance. However, used together with the BiP protein, they showed 60% of sensitivity and between 87–96% of specificity, comparable to reference ELISA tests. In conclusion, we showed that the performance of the protein combinations is much better than the proteins tested individually for the diagnosis of AAT. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is an endemic disease in sub-Saharan Africa that hinders the development of livestock production on the continent. The control of the disease is based on chemotherapy, vector control and diagnosis. Misuse, as well as the continuous/regular use of a limited number of anti-trypanosomal drugs, is responsible for the appearance of increasingly drug-resistant strains of trypanosomes. In terms of serological diagnosis, the most efficient test at present suffers from a lack of reagent standardization. Unfortunately, even the most promising candidates fail due to low sensitivity in primately or chronically infected animals. Based on this observation it seems obvious that diagnosis must be revisited. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic potential of two Trypanosoma brucei proteins, TbLysoPLA and TbGK, in indirect ELISA for antibody detection. To provide a proof of concept that the judicious association of immunoreactive proteins could improve the sensitivity and specificity of tests based on recombinant antigens, we used these molecules alone and then in combination, associated or not with the BiP protein of T. congolense. The evaluation in serological diagnosis showed that the two proteins used separately had a poor performance. However, when used together with the BiP protein, they showed a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity between 87 and 96%, comparable to the reference tests. It shows for the first time that the performance of protein combinations is much better than that of the proteins tested individually for the diagnosis of AAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magamba Tounkara
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
- Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Élevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Alain Boulangé
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Magali Thonnus
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Zakaria Bengaly
- Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Élevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Sophie Thévenon
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Berthier
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Loïc Rivière
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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5
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Chiweshe SM, Steketee PC, Jayaraman S, Paxton E, Neophytou K, Erasmus H, Labuschagne M, Cooper A, MacLeod A, Grey FE, Morrison LJ. Parasite specific 7SL-derived small RNA is an effective target for diagnosis of active trypanosomiasis infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007189. [PMID: 30779758 PMCID: PMC6413958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human and animal African trypanosomiasis (HAT & AAT, respectively) remain a significant health and economic issue across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Effective control of AAT and potential eradication of HAT requires affordable, sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that can be used in the field. Small RNAs in the blood or serum are attractive disease biomarkers due to their stability, accessibility and available technologies for detection. Using RNAseq, we have identified a trypanosome specific small RNA to be present at high levels in the serum of infected cattle. The small RNA is derived from the non-coding 7SL RNA of the peptide signal recognition particle and is detected in the serum of infected cattle at significantly higher levels than in the parasite, suggesting active processing and secretion. We show effective detection of the small RNA in the serum of infected cattle using a custom RT-qPCR assay. Strikingly, the RNA can be detected before microscopy detection of parasitaemia in the blood, and it can also be detected during remission periods of infection when no parasitaemia is detectable by microscopy. However, RNA levels drop following treatment with trypanocides, demonstrating accurate prediction of active infection. While the small RNA sequence is conserved between different species of trypanosome, nucleotide differences within the sequence allow generation of highly specific assays that can distinguish between infections with Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax. Finally, we demonstrate effective detection of the small RNA directly from serum, without the need for pre-processing, with a single step RT-qPCR assay. Our findings identify a species-specific trypanosome small RNA that can be detected at high levels in the serum of cattle with active parasite infections. This provides the basis for the development of a cheap, non-invasive and highly effective diagnostic test for trypanosomiasis. African trypanosomes cause significant disease in humans and animals across sub-Saharan Africa. For both human and animal infections diagnostics that can accurately identify an active infection are lacking–this is particularly the case in animal disease where most diagnosis is based upon clinical signs, which is not a specific or sensitive means of detecting infection. There is therefore a significant unmet need for a pathogen marker of active infection that accurately indicates whether an animal or human is currently infected. Through analysing the blood of cattle infected with trypanosomes, we identified a short sequence of RNA that was present at very high levels. This small RNA derives from the trypanosome genome, and we could identify its presence in the genome of all three species that are responsible for human and animal disease. We were able to design species-specific tests, and showed that in samples from infected animals the assays were more sensitive than the traditional microscope-based detection, importantly the signal disappeared relatively quickly after successful treatment, and when treatment failed, the assay was able to accurately identify when infection persisted. We also demonstrated that the causative agent of human trypanosomiasis secretes the marker at similar levels to that seen in the animal-infective trypanosomes. Therefore, we have discovered a marker of trypanosome infection that is present at high levels in the blood of infected animals, disappears quickly upon successful treatment, but is effective at detecting instances of unsuccessful treatment and persistent infection. This represents a potentially powerful diagnostic tool for human and animal trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Chiweshe
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Pieter C Steketee
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharth Jayaraman
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Edith Paxton
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Kyriaki Neophytou
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Heidi Erasmus
- Clinvet Research Innovation, Uitzich Road, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Michel Labuschagne
- Clinvet Research Innovation, Uitzich Road, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Anneli Cooper
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, Bearsden Road, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Annette MacLeod
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, Bearsden Road, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Finn E Grey
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J Morrison
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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6
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Antigen detection ELISA: A sensitive and reliable tool for the detection of active infection of surra. Acta Trop 2018; 187:23-27. [PMID: 30053383 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomosis, an endemic disease in Asia, America (central and south) and Africa causes havoc economical loss in livestock industry. The carrier animals which are symptomless and harbours low level of parasites can act as a source of infection. The level of parasitaemia fluctuates, especially during the latent infection; moreover the antibodies which are not found early in the infection may persit even after recovery or chemotherapy. The parasitological and/or serological tests always can not detect current infection or carrier animals. Hence, in the present study double antibody sandwitch antigen detection ELISA (Ag-ELISA) is developed to detect circulating trypanosomes. The new assay has been evaluated using 554 field samples comprising bovine and camel. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the new assay was found to be 97.4% and 99.0% respectively, with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.96. The developed assay could detect 11.5 Trypanosoma evansi per mL from the experimentally infected blood, buffy coat and purified T. evansi samples. The findings revealed that the developed assay can be exploited as a potential diagnostic tool in the detection of active trypanosomal infection.
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7
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Pinto Torres JE, Goossens J, Ding J, Li Z, Lu S, Vertommen D, Naniima P, Chen R, Muyldermans S, Sterckx YGJ, Magez S. Development of a Nanobody-based lateral flow assay to detect active Trypanosoma congolense infections. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9019. [PMID: 29899344 PMCID: PMC5998082 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26732-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT), a disease affecting livestock, is caused by parasites of the Trypanosoma genus (mainly T. vivax and T. congolense). AAT is widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it continues to impose a heavy socio-economic burden as it renders development of sustainable livestock rearing very strenuous. Active case-finding and the identification of infected animals prior to initiation of drug treatment requires the availability of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests. In this paper, we describe the development of two heterologous sandwich assay formats (ELISA and LFA) for T. congolense detection through the use of Nanobodies (Nbs). The immunisation of an alpaca with a secretome mix from two T. congolense strains resulted in the identification of a Nb pair (Nb44/Nb42) that specifically targets the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase. We demonstrate that the Nb44/Nb42 ELISA and LFA can be employed to detect parasitaemia in plasma samples from experimentally infected mice and cattle and, additionally, that they can serve as ‘test-of-cure’ tools. Altogether, the findings in this paper present the development and evaluation of the first Nb-based antigen detection LFA to identify active T. congolense infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joar E Pinto Torres
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Research Center (SBRC), VIB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie Goossens
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Research Center (SBRC), VIB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jianzu Ding
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zeng Li
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Research Center (SBRC), VIB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shaohong Lu
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Didier Vertommen
- Department of Metabolism and Hormones, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 75, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Naniima
- Institute of Virology, Structural Virology Group, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rui Chen
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yann G-J Sterckx
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Research Center (SBRC), VIB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Research Unit for Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Structural Biology Research Center (SBRC), VIB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Ghent University Global Campus, Songdomunhwa-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, 406-840, Incheon, South Korea.
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Matovu E, Kitibwa A, Picado A, Biéler S, Bessell PR, Ndung'u JM. Serological tests for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis detect antibodies in cattle. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:546. [PMID: 29100526 PMCID: PMC5670715 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2487-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Serological tests for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT) detect antibodies to antigens on the cell surface of bloodstream trypanosomes. As trypanosomes that cause animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) also express related antigens, we have evaluated two rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) on cattle in trypanosomiasis endemic and non-endemic regions, to determine whether gHAT serological tests could also be used to screen for AAT. Methods Two RDTs, 1G RDT, made with native antigens, and p2G RDT, made with recombinant antigens, were tested on 121 cattle in a trypanosomiasis-free region, and on 312 cattle from a rhodesiense HAT and AAT endemic region. A subset of samples from the endemic region were also tested with two immune trypanolysis (TL) tests. The sensitivity of the tests was estimated by evaluating the result of the RDT on samples that were positive by both microscopy and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR, whilst specificity was the result of the RDT on samples that were negative by ITS PCR and microscopy, and others from the non-endemic region. Results The specificity of the p2G RDT on cattle from the non-endemic region was 97.5% (95% CI: 93.0–99.2%), compared to only 57.9% (95% CI: 48.9–66.3%) for 1G RDT. The specificities of 1G RDT, p2G RDT and TL on endemic control cattle were 14.6% (95% CI: 9.7–21.5%), 22.6% (95% CI: 16.4–30.3%) and 68.3% (95% CI: 59.6–75.9%), respectively. The sensitivities of the tests on trypanosome positive samples were 85.1% (95% CI: 79.1–89.7%), 89.1% (95% CI: 83.7–93.0%) and 59.3% (95% CI: 51.8–66.4%), respectively. Among the same samples, 51.7% were positive by both TL and the 1G RDT. Conclusions These serological tests detect cross-reacting antibodies in cattle. The p2G RDT based on recombinant antigens had a high specificity in a non-endemic region, while the 1G RDT had a lower specificity, suggesting cross-reactivity with other pathogens. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2487-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enock Matovu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Annah Kitibwa
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Albert Picado
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Biéler
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Joseph Mathu Ndung'u
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, Geneva, Switzerland
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Black SJ, Mansfield JM. Prospects for vaccination against pathogenic African trypanosomes. Parasite Immunol 2017; 38:735-743. [PMID: 27636100 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
African trypanosomes cause human and animal African trypanosomiases, which are chronic, debilitating and often fatal diseases of people and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. The extracellular protozoan parasites are exemplars of antigenic variation. They direct host-protective B-cell and T-cell immune responses towards hypervariable components of their variable surface glycoprotein coat and evade immune elimination by generating new surface coat antigenic variants at a rate that supersedes immune destruction. This results in recurring waves of parasitemia, tissue invasion and escalating immunopathology in trypanosomiasis-susceptible hosts. Here, we discuss the possibility that host control of African trypanosomes might be improved by immunization with conserved VSG peptides and invariant surface glycoproteins. Infection-induced T-cell recall responses to these typically poorly expressed or nonimmunogenic parasite components induce tissue phagocytes to produce microbicidal materials that kill trypanosomes. Preliminary data that support this immune-enhancing vaccine strategy are discussed, as are host and parasite interactions that might downregulate the protective responses. These include infection-induced immunosuppression and increasing virulence of infecting parasites over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Black
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - J M Mansfield
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Fleming JR, Sastry L, Wall SJ, Sullivan L, Ferguson MAJ. Proteomic Identification of Immunodiagnostic Antigens for Trypanosoma vivax Infections in Cattle and Generation of a Proof-of-Concept Lateral Flow Test Diagnostic Device. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004977. [PMID: 27606593 PMCID: PMC5015970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma vivax is one of the causative agents of Animal African Trypanosomosis in cattle, which is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and transmitted primarily by the bite of the tsetse fly vector. The parasite can also be mechanically transmitted, and this has allowed its spread to South America. Diagnostics are limited for this parasite and in farm settings diagnosis is mainly symptom-based. We set out to identify, using a proteomic approach, candidate diagnostic antigens to develop into an easy to use pen-side lateral flow test device. Two related members the invariant surface glycoprotein family, TvY486_0045500 and TvY486_0019690, were selected. Segments of these antigens, lacking N-terminal signal peptides and C-terminal transmembrane domains, were expressed in E. coli. Both were developed into ELISA tests and one of them, TvY486_0045500, was developed into a lateral flow test prototype. The tests were all evaluated blind with 113 randomised serum samples, taken from 37 calves before and after infection with T. vivax or T. congolense. The TvY486_0045500 and TvY486_0019690 ELISA tests gave identical sensitivity and specificity values for T. vivax infection of 94.5% (95% CI, 86.5% to 98.5%) and 88.0% (95% CI, 75.7% to 95.5%), respectively, and the TvY486_0045500 lateral flow test prototype a sensitivity and specificity of 92.0% (95% CI, 83.4% to 97.0%) and 89.8% (95% CI, 77.8% to 96.6%), respectively. These data suggest that recombinant TvY486_0045500 shows promise for the development of a pen-side lateral flow test for the diagnosis of T. vivax animal African trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lalitha Sastry
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lauren Sullivan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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