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Wijburg SR, Montizaan MGE, Kik MJL, Joeres M, Cardron G, Luttermann C, Maas M, Maksimov P, Opsteegh M, Schares G. Drivers of infection with Toxoplasma gondii genotype type II in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:30. [PMID: 38263195 PMCID: PMC10804655 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06068-6] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In September 2014, there was sudden upsurge in the number of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) found dead in the Netherlands. High infection levels with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii were demonstrated, but it was unclear what had caused this increase in cases of fatal toxoplasmosis. In the present study, we aimed to gain more knowledge on the pathology and prevalence of T. gondii infections in Eurasian red squirrels in the Netherlands, on the T. gondii genotypes present, and on the determinants of the spatiotemporal variability in these T. gondii infections. The presence of the closely related parasite Hammondia hammondi was also determined. METHODS Eurasian red squirrels that were found dead in the wild or that had died in wildlife rescue centres in the Netherlands over a period of seven years (2014-2020) were examined. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to analyse tissue samples for the presence of T. gondii and H. hammondi DNA. Toxoplasma gondii-positive samples were subjected to microsatellite typing and cluster analysis. A mixed logistic regression was used to identify climatic and other environmental predictors of T. gondii infection in the squirrels. RESULTS A total of 178 squirrels were examined (49/178 T. gondii positive, 5/178 H. hammondi positive). Inflammation of multiple organs was the cause of death in 29 squirrels, of which 24 were also T. gondii polymerase chain reaction positive. Toxoplasma gondii infection was positively associated with pneumonia and hepatitis. Microsatellite typing revealed only T. gondii type II alleles. Toxoplasma gondii infection rates showed a positive correlation with the number of days of heavy rainfall in the previous 12 months. Conversely, they showed a negative association with the number of hot days within the 2-week period preceding the sampling date, as well as with the percentage of deciduous forest cover at the sampling site. CONCLUSIONS Toxoplasma gondii infection in the squirrels appeared to pose a significant risk of acute mortality. The T. gondii genotype detected in this study is commonly found across Europe. The reasons for the unusually high infection rates and severe symptoms of these squirrels from the Netherlands remain unclear. The prevalence of T. gondii in the deceased squirrels was linked to specific environmental factors. However, whether the increase in the number of dead squirrels indicated a higher environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts has yet to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Wijburg
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Margriet G E Montizaan
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marja J L Kik
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Pathology, Veterinair Pathologisch Diagnostisch Centrum, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maike Joeres
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Garance Cardron
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christine Luttermann
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Marieke Opsteegh
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Warschkau D, Seeber F. Advances towards the complete in vitro life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Fac Rev 2023; 12:1. [PMID: 36846606 PMCID: PMC9944905 DOI: 10.12703/r/12-1] [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] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The full life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii cannot be recapitulated in vitro, and access to certain stages, such as mature tissue cysts (bradyzoites) and oocysts (sporozoites), traditionally requires animal experiments. This has greatly hindered the study of the biology of these morphologically and metabolically distinct stages, which are essential for the infection of humans and animals. However, several breakthrough advances have been made in recent years towards obtaining these life stages in vitro, such as the discovery of several molecular factors that induce differentiation and commitment to the sexual cycle, and different culture methods that use, for example, myotubes and intestinal organoids to obtain mature bradyzoites and different sexual stages of the parasite. We review these novel tools and approaches, highlight their limitations and challenges, and discuss what research questions can already be answered with these models. We finally identify future routes for recapitulating the entire sexual cycle in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Warschkau
- FG16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- FG16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
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Rojas-Pirela M, Andrade-Alviárez D, Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Ortega Y, Maya JD, Rojas V, Quiñones W, Michels PA, Kemmerling U. MicroRNAs: master regulators in host-parasitic protist interactions. Open Biol 2022; 12:210395. [PMID: 35702995 PMCID: PMC9198802 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs present in a wide diversity of organisms. MiRNAs regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level through their interaction with the 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs, inducing translational inhibition or mRNA destabilization and degradation. Thus, miRNAs regulate key biological processes, such as cell death, signal transduction, development, cellular proliferation and differentiation. The dysregulation of miRNAs biogenesis and function is related to the pathogenesis of diseases, including parasite infection. Moreover, during host-parasite interactions, parasites and host miRNAs determine the probability of infection and progression of the disease. The present review is focused on the possible role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of diseases of clinical interest caused by parasitic protists. In addition, the potential role of miRNAs as targets for the design of drugs and diagnostic and prognostic markers of parasitic diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Diego Andrade-Alviárez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Yessica Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Paul A. Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
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Retrospective study of toxoplasmosis prevalence in pregnant women in Benin and its relation with malaria. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262018. [PMID: 34995295 PMCID: PMC8741053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Globally distributed with variable prevalence depending on geography, toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. This disease is usually benign but poses a risk for immunocompromised people and for newborns of mothers with a primary infection during pregnancy because of the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT). CT can cause severe damage to fetuses-newborns. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa on toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, seroconversion and CT in a large longitudinal cohort and furthermore, no observation has been made of potential relationships with malaria.
Methods
We performed a retrospective toxoplasmosis serological study using available samples from a large cohort of 1,037 pregnant women who were enrolled in a malaria follow-up during the 2008–2010 period in a rural area in Benin. We also used some existing data to investigate potential relationships between the maternal toxoplasmosis serological status and recorded malaria infections.
Results
Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, seroconversion and CT rates were 52.6%, 3.4% and 0.2%, respectively, reflecting the population situation of toxoplasmosis, without targeted medical intervention. The education level influences the toxoplasmosis serological status of women, with women with little or no formal education have greater immunity than others. Surprisingly, toxoplasmosis seropositive pregnant women tended to present lower malaria infection during pregnancy (number) or at delivery (presence) and to have lower IgG levels to Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1, compared to toxoplasmosis seronegative women.
Conclusions
The high toxoplasmosis seroprevalence indicates that prevention against this parasite remains important to deploy and must be accessible and understandable to and for all individuals (educated and non-educated). A potential protective role against malaria conferred by a preexisting toxoplasmosis infection needs to be explored more precisely to examine the environmental, parasitic and/or immune aspects.
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Panas MW, Boothroyd JC. Seizing control: How dense granule effector proteins enable Toxoplasma to take charge. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:466-477. [PMID: 33400323 PMCID: PMC8344355 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Control of the host cell is crucial to the Apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, while it grows intracellularly. To achieve this goal, these single-celled eukaryotes export a series of effector proteins from organelles known as "dense granules" that interfere with normal cellular processes and responses to invasion. While some effectors are found attached to the outer surface of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in which Toxoplasma tachyzoites reside, others are found in the host cell's cytoplasm and yet others make their way into the host nucleus, where they alter host transcription. Among the processes that are severely altered are innate immune responses, host cell cycle, and association with host organelles. The ways in which these crucial processes are altered through the coordinated action of a large collection of effectors is as elegant as it is complex, and is the central focus of the following review; we also discuss the recent advances in our understanding of how dense granule effector proteins are trafficked out of the PV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Panas
- Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
| | - John C. Boothroyd
- Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
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6
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Wong ZS, Borrelli SLS, Coyne CC, Boyle JP. Cell type- and species-specific host responses to Toxoplasma gondii and its near relatives. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:423-431. [PMID: 32407716 PMCID: PMC8281328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is remarkably unique in its ability to successfully infect vertebrate hosts from multiple phyla and can successfully infect most cells within these organisms. The infection outcome in each of these species is determined by the complex interaction between parasite and host genotype. As techniques to quantify global changes in cell function become more readily available and precise, new data are coming to light about how (i) different host cell types respond to parasitic infection and (ii) different parasite species impact the host. Here we focus on recent studies comparing the response to intracellular parasitism by different cell types and insights into understanding host-parasite interactions from comparative studies on T. gondii and its close extant relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhee S Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sarah L Sokol Borrelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Carolyn C Coyne
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jon P Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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