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Coelho PRS, López-Hernández D, Oliveira NMT, Gomes DS, Geiger SM, Pinto HA. Idiopyrgus souleyetianus (Gastropoda: Tomichiidae) as an intermediate host of the liver fluke Amphimerus sp. (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae) in Brazil. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102867. [PMID: 38364969 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102867] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Despite the importance of fish-borne trematodes of the family Opisthorchiidae as causative agents of human liver fluke disease, studies on these parasites outside Asia are relativally scarce. In South America, human focus of amphimerosis is known in Ecuador since the mid-20th century, and Amphimerus spp. have also been reported in wild and domestic mammals. Nevertheless, the knowledge on the snails that act as the first intermediate host of these potentially zoonotic parasites are scarce. Herein, a new cercaria of the pleurolophocercous morphotype found in the freshwater snail Idiopyrgus souleyetianus from Brazil was subjected to morphological and molecular studies. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on 28S, 5.8S-ITS-2 and Cox-1 sequences enabled the identification of Amphimerus sp., a species distinct from that reported in humans from Ecuador. This cercariae was morphologically compared with other opisthorchiid cercariae known. The possible occurrence of human amphimerosis in Brazil is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R S Coelho
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Nathália M T Oliveira
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Dharliton S Gomes
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Stefan M Geiger
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Hudson A Pinto
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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Characterization of the mitochondrial genome sequences of the liver fluke Amphimerus sp. (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae) from Ecuador and phylogenetic implications. Acta Trop 2019; 195:90-96. [PMID: 31022381 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Amphimerus Barker, 1911 is a liver fluke infecting several animal species and humans. Being a digenetic trematode of the Opisthorchiidae family, Amphimerus is closely related to the genera Metorchis, Clonorchis and Opisthorchis. Recently, a high prevalence of Amphimerus infection in humans, cats, and dogs had been demonstrated in a tropical Pacific region of Ecuador. Hence, we determined and characterized the entire mt genome sequences of adult liver flukes, morphologically identified as Amphimerus, collected in the endemic region of Ecuador, and examined its phylogenetic relationships with flukes in the Opisthorchiidae family using Bayesian inference (BI) based on the concatenated amino acid sequences and partial cox1 sequences. The complete mt genome sequence (15, 151 bp in length) of the Amphimerus sp. contains 35 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs, without atp8), two rRNAs (rrnL and rrnS) and 21 tRNAs, lacking trnG. The gene content and arrangement of the Ecuadorian Amphimerus mt genome was similar to those of other trematodes in the Opisthorchiidae family. All genes in the circular mt genome of Amphimerus sp. are transcribed from the same strand in one direction, with the A + T content of 60.77%. Genetic distances between Amphimerus sp. and other genera in Opisthorchiidae were rather high, ranging from 26.86% to 28.75% at nucleotide level and 29.37%-31.12% at amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Ecuadorian Amphimerus within the branch of Opisthorchiidae, but very distinct from Opisthorchis. Our results indicate that the liver fluke Amphimerus from Ecuador does not belong to the genus Opisthorchis, and that it should be assigned under the genus Amphimerus. The determination of the mt genome of the Ecuadorian Amphimerus provides a new genetic resource for future studies on taxonomy and molecular epidemiology of Opisthorchiidae trematodes.
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Cevallos W, Calvopiña M, Nipáz V, Vicente-Santiago B, López-Albán J, Fernández-Soto P, Guevara Á, Muro A. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Amphimerus spp. liver fluke infection in Humans. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 112:364-369. [PMID: 28443982 PMCID: PMC5398163 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amphimerus spp. is a liver fluke that infects humans and domestic animals. It is highly prevalent in some Ecuadorian communities. Currently, diagnosis is based on the microscopic observation of eggs in faeces, but this has variable sensitivity. More sensitive methods are needed for diagnostic testing. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this work was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using crude antigens from Amphimerus spp. adult worms to detect anti-Amphimerus IgG in human sera. METHODS Crude somatic antigens were obtained from adult Amphimerus spp. worms. Human sera from 119 patients were tested: 48 from individuals with a confirmed Amphimerus spp. infection, 78 from non-infected Ecuadorians living in the endemic region, 60 from persons living in non-endemic areas (20 Ecuadorians, 20 Europeans, and 20 Africans), and 33 who had other parasitic and non-parasitic infections. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Results were analysed using the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.967. The accuracy of the ELISA was high. The sensitivity was 85.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 80.3-89.7%] and the specificity was 71.0% (95% CI: 65.2-76.8%). Some cross reactivity was detected against Paragonimus mexicanus, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosomiasis, Taenia solium, Strongyloides stercoralis, Mansonella spp., and Vampirolepis nana. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We have developed the first ELISA technique that detects anti-Amphimerus IgG in human sera with good sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility. However, more specific antigens are needed to further enhance performance of this assay. Regardless, this ELISA test could be useful for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of human Amphimerus spp. infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Cevallos
- Universidad Central del Ecuador, Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador.,Universidad de Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tropical Disease Research Centre, Group e-INTRO, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Victoria Nipáz
- Universidad Central del Ecuador, Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Belén Vicente-Santiago
- Universidad de Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tropical Disease Research Centre, Group e-INTRO, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Julio López-Albán
- Universidad de Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tropical Disease Research Centre, Group e-INTRO, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pedro Fernández-Soto
- Universidad de Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tropical Disease Research Centre, Group e-INTRO, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ángel Guevara
- Universidad Central del Ecuador, Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Antonio Muro
- Universidad de Salamanca, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tropical Disease Research Centre, Group e-INTRO, Salamanca, Spain
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Lopes DA, Mainenti A, Knoff M, Gomes DC. Type material of Platyhelminthes housed in the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ FIOCRUZ (CHIOC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1979 to 2016 (Rhabditophora, Trematoda and Cestoda). Zookeys 2017; 662:1-48. [PMID: 28769607 PMCID: PMC5539698 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.662.11685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The second part of the catalogue of type material deposited in the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ FIOCRUZ (CHIOC), between 1979 and 2016, is presented, to complement the first list of all types that was published in 1979. This part includes Platyhelminthes other than monogenoids, which were covered in the first part published in September 2016. The present catalogue comprises type material for 104 species, distributed across three classes, 40 families and 75 genera. Species names are listed systematically, followed by type host, infection site, type locality and specimens with their collection numbers and references. The classification and the nomenclature of the species have been updated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela A. Lopes
- Laboratório de Helmintos Parasitos de Vertebrados, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adriana Mainenti
- Laboratório de Helmintos Parasitos de Vertebrados, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Knoff
- Laboratório de Helmintos Parasitos de Vertebrados, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Delir Corrêa Gomes
- Laboratório de Helmintos Parasitos de Vertebrados, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Calvopiña M, Cevallos W, Atherton R, Saunders M, Small A, Kumazawa H, Sugiyama H. High prevalence of the liver fluke Amphimerus sp. in domestic cats and dogs in an area for human amphimeriasis in Ecuador. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003526. [PMID: 25647171 PMCID: PMC4315407 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amphimerus sp. is a liver fluke which recently has been shown to have a high prevalence of infection among an indigenous group, Chachi, who reside in a tropical rainforest in the northwestern region of Ecuador. Since it is unknown which animals can act as a reservoir and/or definitive hosts for Amphimerus sp. in this endemic area, a study was done to determine the prevalence of infection in domestic cats and dogs. This information is important to understand the epidemiology, life cycle and control of this parasite. Methodology/Findings In July 2012, three Chachi communities located on Rio Cayapas, province of Esmeraldas, were surveyed. A total of 89 of the 109 registered households participated in the study. Of the 27 cats and 43 dogs found residing in the communities, stool samples were collected from 14 cats and 31 dogs (total of 45 animals) and examined microscopically for the presence of Amphimerus eggs. The prevalence of infection was 71.4% in cats and 38.7% in dogs, with similar rates of infection in all three communities. Significantly more cats were infected than dogs (p = 0.042). Conclusions/Significance The data show a high rate of Amphimerus sp. infection in domestic cats and dogs residing in Chachi communities. It can be concluded that these animals act as definitive and reservoir hosts for this liver fluke and that amphimeriasis is a zoonotic disease. These findings provide important epidemiological data which will aid in the development and implementation of control strategies against the transmission of Amphimerus. Amphimerus sp. is a fluke that infects the bile ducts of its definitive hosts. Recently, it has been shown that an indigenous Amerindian group, the Chachi, living in a rural and remote tropical area of Ecuador, are infected with this parasite. The epidemiology and life cycle of this parasite remains elusive, and research is needed to understand the mode of transmission and zoonotic potential of the parasite. It was hypothesized that the domestic animals of the Chachi households may act as definitive and reservoir hosts for Amphimerus infection. Hence, the presence and prevalence of infection in these animals residing in communities endemic for human amphimeriasis was investigated. Some 45 animal stool samples were examined microscopically for the presence of Amphimerus eggs. The results showed an infection rate of 71.4% in cats and 38.7% in dogs. The data provided evidence that these domestic animals act as both definitive and reservoir hosts for the parasite and that amphimeriasis is a zoonotic disease. The implementation of a mass treatment/control program must target both humans and animals in order to minimize the transmission of this liver fluke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Calvopiña
- Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador
- * E-mail:
| | - William Cevallos
- Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Richard Atherton
- Centro de Biomedicina, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Alexander Small
- Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hideo Kumazawa
- Department of Parasitology Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan
| | - Hiromu Sugiyama
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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Calvopiña M, Cevallos W, Kumazawa H, Eisenberg J. High prevalence of human liver infection by Amphimerus spp. flukes, Ecuador. Emerg Infect Dis 2012; 17:2331-4. [PMID: 22172165 PMCID: PMC3311191 DOI: 10.3201/eid1712.110373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphimerus spp. flukes are known to infect mammals, but human infections have not been confirmed. Microscopy of fecal samples from 397 persons from Ecuador revealed Opisthorchiidae eggs in 71 (24%) persons. Light microscopy of adult worms and scanning electron microscopy of eggs were compatible with descriptions of Amphimerus spp. This pathogen was only observed in communities that consumed undercooked fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Calvopiña
- Universidad Central del Ecuador Centro de Biomedicina, Quito, Ecuador.
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