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Silva ZM, Toledo DNM, Pio S, Machado BAA, Dos Santos PV, Hó FG, Medina YN, Cordeiro PHDM, Perucci LO, Pinto KMDC, Talvani A. Neuroserpin, IL-33 and IL-17A as potential markers of mild symptoms of depressive syndrome in Toxoplasma gondii-infected pregnant women. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1394456. [PMID: 38835777 PMCID: PMC11148649 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1394456] [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: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depressive syndrome (DS) is a common complication during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and is triggered by multiple organic/genetic and environmental factors. Clinical and biochemical follow-up is essential for the early diagnosis and prognosis of DS. The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii causes infectious damage to the fetus during parasite primary-infection. However, in long-term infections, pregnant women develop immune protection to protect the fetus, although they remain susceptible to pathological or inflammatory effects induced by T. gondii. This study aimed to investigate plasma inflammatory biomarkers in pregnant women seropositive and seronegative for T. gondii, with diagnoses of minor and moderate/severe DS. Methods Pregnant women (n=45; age=18-39 years) were recruited during prenatal care at health centers in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants were asked to complete a socio-demographic questionnaire to be submitted to well-standardized DS scale calculators (Beck Depression Inventory Questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Major Depressive Episode Module). Additionally, 4 mL of blood was collected for plasma neuroserpin, CCL2, IL-17A, and IL-33 analysis. Results Pregnant volunteers with chronic T. gondii contact were all IgG+ (44%; n=21) and exhibited increased plasma IL-33, IL-17A, and neuroserpin levels, but not CCL2, compared to uninfected pregnant women. Using Beck's depression inventory, we observed an increase in plasma IL-17A and IL-33 in women with T. gondii infeCction diagnosed with mild DS, whereas neuroserpin was associated with minor and moderate/severe DS. Discussion Our data suggest a close relationship between DS in pregnant women with chronic T. gondii infection and neurological conditions, which may be partially mediated by plasma neuroserpin, IL-33, and IL-17A levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zolder Marinho Silva
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Débora Nonato Miranda Toledo
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Sirlaine Pio
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Bianca Alves Almeida Machado
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução Crustal e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Vilela Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Flávia Galvão Hó
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Yasmim Nogueira Medina
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique de Miranda Cordeiro
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiza Oliveira Perucci
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, California University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Kelerson Mauro de Castro Pinto
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Escola de Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - André Talvani
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Li SC, He JG. A generalizable and tunable engineered ecosystem provides a clear route to prosperity and well-being to harness the world's aquatic "blue" food systems to help end hunger: A perspective. FRONTIERS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022; 2:886808. [PMID: 36312446 PMCID: PMC9617584 DOI: 10.3389/frfst.2022.886808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Seafood security is essential in modern society. In 2013, Bush and colleagues stated, 'Aquaculture, farming aquatic organisms, provides close to 50% of the world's supply of seafood, with a value of United States $125 billion. It makes up 13% of the world's animal-source protein (excluding eggs and dairy) and employs an estimated 24 million people'. With the increase in the human population and reducing fishing resources, humans increasingly rely on aquacultural products as the primary protein sources for many countries. Aquacultural productivity has been improving in recent years, and in certain countries, the aquaculture output is more than the fishing output. For example, Chinese aquaculture production is more than fishing output, which provides one-third of animal protein. Thus, intensive aquaculture has become the main supply with global aquatic products (FAO). In recent years, it is estimated that each person consumption of aquaculture products is 130 kg in some countries (Iceland). Here, we illustrate the road blocker in farmed shrimp production and provide our resolution. The global pandemic of white spot syndrome (WSS), caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), bears a devastating economic loss in farmed shrimp production, thereby jeopardizing seafood security. Currently, there is no effective control for WSS. Conventional single-species intensive farming removes the spatiotemporal interaction between different species. We hypothesize that establishing the spatiotemporal interface of a predator-prey may control WSS outbreak. We search for the pathways for the mechanisms by which predator-prey species interact and compete across spatial scales to characterize WSSV dispersal at regional scales for the local spatiotemporal structure of viral transmission. Thus, we create a generalizable and tunable engineered ecosystem that provides a clear route to prosperity and well-being to harness the world's aquatic "blue" food systems to help end hunger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwen Calvin Li
- University of CA-Irvine School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Jian-Guo He
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Chieffi PP, Zevallos Lescano SA, Rodrigues E Fonseca G, Dos Santos SV. Human Toxocariasis: 2010 to 2020 Contributions from Brazilian Researchers. Res Rep Trop Med 2021; 12:81-91. [PMID: 34040480 PMCID: PMC8141392 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s274733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This is a review of the published contributions made by Brazilian researchers between 2010 and 2020 on the natural history of human toxocariasis and the effects of human toxocariasis on nonhuman paratenic hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Paulo Chieffi
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Santa Casa Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriela Rodrigues E Fonseca
- Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lara-Espinosa JV, Santana-Martínez RA, Maldonado PD, Zetter M, Becerril-Villanueva E, Pérez-Sánchez G, Pavón L, Mata-Espinosa D, Barrios-Payán J, López-Torres MO, Marquina-Castillo B, Hernández-Pando R. Experimental Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Absence of Detectable Brain Infection Induces Neuroinflammation and Behavioural Abnormalities in Male BALB/c Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249483. [PMID: 33322180 PMCID: PMC7763936 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease in which prolonged, non-resolutive inflammation of the lung may lead to metabolic and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Previous studies have reported that individuals coursing pulmonary TB experience cognitive or behavioural changes; however, the pathogenic substrate of such manifestations have remained unknown. Here, using a mouse model of progressive pulmonary TB, we report that, even in the absence of brain infection, TB is associated with marked increased synthesis of both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in discrete brain areas such as the hypothalamus, the hippocampal formation and cerebellum accompanied by substantial changes in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Moreover, histopathological findings of neurodegeneration and neuronal death were found as infection progressed with activation of p38, JNK and reduction in the BDNF levels. Finally, we perform behavioural analysis in infected mice throughout the infection, and our data show that the cytokine and neurochemical changes were associated with a marked onset of cognitive impairment as well as depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour. Altogether, our results suggest that besides pulmonary damage, TB is accompanied by an extensive neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative state which explains some of the behavioural abnormalities found in TB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline V. Lara-Espinosa
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
| | - Ricardo A. Santana-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico;
| | - Perla D. Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Patología Vascular Cerebral, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, CDMX 14269, Mexico;
| | - Mario Zetter
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
| | - Enrique Becerril-Villanueva
- Departamento de Psicoinmunologia, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramón de la Fuente, CDMX 14370, Mexico; (E.B.-V.); (G.P.-S.); (L.P.)
| | - Gilberto Pérez-Sánchez
- Departamento de Psicoinmunologia, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramón de la Fuente, CDMX 14370, Mexico; (E.B.-V.); (G.P.-S.); (L.P.)
| | - Lenin Pavón
- Departamento de Psicoinmunologia, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramón de la Fuente, CDMX 14370, Mexico; (E.B.-V.); (G.P.-S.); (L.P.)
| | - Dulce Mata-Espinosa
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
| | - Jorge Barrios-Payán
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
| | - Manuel O. López-Torres
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
| | - Brenda Marquina-Castillo
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
- Correspondence: (B.M.-C.); (R.H.-P.)
| | - Rogelio Hernández-Pando
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, CDMX 14080, Mexico; (J.V.L.-E.); (M.Z.); (D.M.-E.); (J.B.-P.); (M.O.L.-T.)
- Correspondence: (B.M.-C.); (R.H.-P.)
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Gale SD, Hedges DW. Neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric effects of toxocariasis. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 109:261-272. [PMID: 32381201 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Caused by the neuroinvasive nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, human toxocariasis has a worldwide distribution with seroprevalence in humans associated with low socioeconomic status and low educational attainment. Third-stage Toxocara larvae can invade human tissues, including the brain and spine, where they can result in encephalitis, meningitis, and inflammation. Toxocara infection in animal models has been associated with cognitive and behavioural changes. In humans, preliminary cross-sectional research suggests that Toxocara seropositivity is associated with worse cognitive function in children and adults. Additional preliminary cross-sectional findings suggest associations between Toxocara seropositivity and neuropsychiatric function, including schizophrenia and neurologic conditions such as epilepsy. Given the widespread distribution of human toxocariasis and early evidence suggesting that it can be associated with cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in humans, additional research regarding the effects of toxocariasis on the human brain is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States; The Neuroscience Centre, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States.
| | - Dawson W Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States; The Neuroscience Centre, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
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Wu T, Bowman DD. Visceral larval migrans of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in non-canid and non-felid hosts. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 109:63-88. [PMID: 32381221 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are considered the most ubiquitous gastrointestinal helminths in domesticated canids and felids. Ascarid eggs passed in the faeces of canids and felids in a suitable environment may remain infective for years and are capable of infecting not only canids and felids, but a large range of other vertebrate paratenic hosts, including man. Infection with Toxocara species also occurs following the ingestion of paratenic hosts containing infective larvae. As infective larvae are incapable of completing their lifecycle in these hosts, they instead travel to different parts of the body, sometimes inducing inflammatory responses, and in some cases remaining entrapped in the body for years. Migration routes depend on the host species; however, nearly all organs may be affected with varying quantities of larval burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United states
| | - Dwight D Bowman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
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Nijsse R, Overgaauw P, Ploeger H, Mughini-Gras L. Sources of environmental contamination with Toxocara spp.: An omnipresent parasite. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 109:585-614. [PMID: 32381219 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Embryonated Toxocara eggs in the environment are considered to be the most important source of human toxocariasis. These eggs, however, are also a source of infection for the definitive and paratenic hosts. Most available literature focuses on Toxocara canis in dogs, or other canids. There are, however, other Toxocara species with their accompanying definitive hosts. Results from studies that modelled patent infections in dogs, cats and foxes show that although dogs are a very important source for environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, other sources cannot be ignored. For a good understanding of the relative contributions of different definitive hosts to environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs, computational models should be built and fed with data from different fields of expertise as is discussed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Nijsse
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Paul Overgaauw
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Harm Ploeger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Zhu GL, Tang YY, Limpanont Y, Wu ZD, Li J, Lv ZY. Zoonotic parasites carried by invasive alien species in China. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:2. [PMID: 30621776 PMCID: PMC6325848 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-018-0512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The invasive alien species may lead to great environmental and economic crisis due to its strong capability of occupying the biological niche of native species and altering the ecosystem of the invaded area. However, its potential to serve as the vectors of some specific zoonotic pathogens, especially parasites, has been neglected. Thus, the damage that it may cause has been hugely underestimated in this aspect, which is actually an important public health problem. This paper aims to discuss the current status of zoonotic parasites carried by invasive alien species in China. MAIN BODY This review summarizes the reported zoonotic parasites carried by invasive alien species in China based on the Database of Invasive Alien Species in China. We summarize their prevalence, threat to human health, related reported cases, and the roles of invasive alien species in the life cycle of these parasites, and the invasion history of some invasive alien species. Furthermore, we sum up the current state of prevention and control of invasive alien species in China, and discuss about the urgency and several feasible strategies for the prevention and control of these zoonoses under the background of booming international communications and inevitable globalization. CONCLUSIONS Information of the zoonotic parasites carried by invasive alien species neither in China or worldwide, especially related case reports, is limited due to a long-time neglection and lack of monitoring. The underestimation of their damage requires more attention to the monitoring and control and compulsory measures should be taken to control the invasive alien species carrying zoonotic parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Li Zhu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, 510080 China
| | - Yi-Yang Tang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, 510080 China
| | - Yanin Limpanont
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
| | - Zhong-Dao Wu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, 510080 China
| | - Jian Li
- Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
| | - Zhi-Yue Lv
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000 Guangdong China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080 China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, 510080 China
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Hafer N. Conflicts over host manipulation between different parasites and pathogens: Investigating the ecological and medical consequences. Bioessays 2016; 38:1027-37. [PMID: 27510821 PMCID: PMC5108444 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201600060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
When parasites have different interests in regard to how their host should behave this can result in a conflict over host manipulation, i.e. parasite induced changes in host behaviour that enhance parasite fitness. Such a conflict can result in the alteration, or even complete suppression, of one parasite's host manipulation. Many parasites, and probably also symbionts and commensals, have the ability to manipulate the behaviour of their host. Non‐manipulating parasites should also have an interest in host behaviour. Given the frequency of multiple parasite infections in nature, potential conflicts of interest over host behaviour and manipulation may be common. This review summarizes the evidence on how parasites can alter other parasite's host manipulation. Host manipulation can have important ecological and medical consequences. I speculate on how a conflict over host manipulation could alter these consequences and potentially offer a new avenue of research to ameliorate harmful consequences of host manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Hafer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.
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Risk and other factors associated with toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in pregnant women from southern Brazil. J Helminthol 2016; 91:534-538. [PMID: 27411883 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x16000481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis causes complications during pregnancy that have serious effects on fetal development. Thus far, toxocariasis has been reported to spread only via vertical transmission. Nonetheless, the population of pregnant women is also exposed to this infection. Co-infection with both Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. has been reported in children, but there are no reports of co-infection in the population of pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of co-infection with T. gondii and Toxocara spp. in pregnant women at a university hospital in southern Brazil, and to identify the risk factors associated with infection by both parasites. Two hundred pregnant women were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii and anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies and were asked to complete an epidemiological questionnaire. In this study, the co-infection rate observed in the total population of pregnant women was 8%. In addition, women with a positive result for a serology test for Toxocara spp. were at increased risk of infection by T. gondii (P = 0.019). Co-infection with both parasites in pregnant women was associated with low birth weights in neonates. The similar modes of transmission of both parasites could explain the co-infection. Only a few previous studies have investigated this phenomenon. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of serological diagnosis during prenatal care and further research in this area to identify risk factors associated with this co-infection, and the possible implications of this co-infection during pregnancy and on the health of newborns.
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