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Sato AP, Silva TCED, Pontes TPD, Konell AL, Barros LDD, Varaschin MS, Oliveira Junior IMD, Sanches AWD, Locatelli-Dittrich R. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seabirds collected along the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2024; 33:e003624. [PMID: 38656050 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612024019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two closely related protozoans that infect a wide range of animals, including birds. However, the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in tissue samples of seabirds. Tissue samples of the pectoral muscles, heart, and brain were collected from 47 birds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State, SC, Brazil. The DNA was extracted from the tissues and screened using nested-PCR (nPCR) targeting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues from seven seabirds (7/47, 14.8%), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) (5/21), and Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) (2/8). N. caninum DNA was detected in tissues of nine seabirds (9/47, 19.1%), the kelp gull (L. dominicanus) (4/21), Manx shearwater (P. puffinus) (2/8), neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) (1/4), brown booby (Sula leucogaster) (1/5), and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (1/1); however, no co-infection was observed. In conclusion, this study showed the circulation of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State. Further studies are required to clarify the role of these birds in the epidemiology of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Sato
- Departmento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Tiffany Christiny Emmerich da Silva
- Projeto de Monitoramento de Praias da Bacia de Santos - PMP-BS, Unidade de Estabilização de Aves Marinhas, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Penha, SC, Brasil
| | - Thamires Pires de Pontes
- Projeto de Monitoramento de Praias da Bacia de Santos - PMP-BS, Unidade de Estabilização de Aves Marinhas, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI, Penha, SC, Brasil
| | | | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
| | - Mary Suzan Varaschin
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
| | - Ivam Moreira de Oliveira Junior
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil
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Guitard J, Brenier-Pinchart MP, Varlet-Marie E, Dalle F, Rouges C, Argy N, Bonhomme J, Capitaine A, Guégan H, Lavergne RA, Dardé ML, Pelloux H, Robert-Gangneux F, Yera H, Sterkers Y. Multicenter evaluation of the Toxoplasma gondii Real-TM (Sacace) kit performance for the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0142823. [PMID: 38470023 PMCID: PMC11005372 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01428-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA is a key tool for the diagnosis of disseminated and congenital toxoplasmosis. This multicentric study from the Molecular Biology Pole of the French National Reference Center for toxoplasmosis aimed to evaluate Toxoplasma gondii Real-TM PCR kit (Sacace). The study compared the analytical and clinical performances of this PCR assay with the reference PCRs used in proficient laboratories. PCR efficiencies varied from 90% to 112%; linearity zone extended over four log units (R2 > 0.99) and limit of detection varied from 0.01 to ≤1 Tg/mL depending on the center. Determined on 173 cryopreserved DNAs from a large range of clinical specimens, clinical sensitivity was 100% [106/106; 95 confidence interval (CI): 96.5%-100%] and specificity was 100% (67/67; 95 CI: 94.6%-100%). The study revealed two potential limitations of the Sacace PCR assay: the first was the inconsistency of the internal control (IC) when added to the PCR mixture. This point was not found under routine conditions when the IC was added during the extraction step. The second is a lack of practicality, as the mixture is distributed over several vials, requiring numerous pipetting operations. Overall, this study provides useful information for the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis; the analytical and clinical performances of the Sacace PCR kit were satisfactory, the kit having sensitivity and specificity similar to those of expert center methods and being able to detect low parasite loads, at levels where multiplicative analysis gives inconsistently positive results. Finally, the study recommends multiplicative analysis in particular for amniotic fluids, aqueous humor, and other single specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Guitard
- Sorbonne University, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Saint-Antoine Hospital Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Paris, France
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuelle Varlet-Marie
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, MiVEGEC, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric Dalle
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Celia Rouges
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Argy
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Bichat Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Julie Bonhomme
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Agathe Capitaine
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Hélène Guégan
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Rose-Anne Lavergne
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Cibles et Médicaments des Infections et de l’Immunité, IICiMed, UR, Nantes, France
| | | | - Hervé Pelloux
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Florence Robert-Gangneux
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Hélène Yera
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Yvon Sterkers
- Molecular Biology group of the French National Reference Center for Toxoplasmosis, Montpellier, France
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
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Datta P, Rattan D, Sharma D, Sharma N, Kalra N, Duseja A, Angrup A, Sehgal R. Novel diagnostic approach for amoebic liver abscess using cell free (cf) DNA: a prospective study. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:259-267. [PMID: 38112684 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2294119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is commonly seen in tropical countries and diagnosis of ALA relies mainly on non-specific serological and imaging techniques as well as PCR from pus. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the potential of using cell free DNA (cfDNA) from serum and urine for diagnosing ALA. METHODS We prospectively evaluated quantitative PCR (qPCR) for detection of cf DNA in serum and urine sample in all liver abscess patients. The samples were collected from patients reporting to emergency ward of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India with symptoms suggestive of liver abscess. Real time PCR was done to detect cf DNA in serum and urine by targeting 99-bp unit of small subunit rRNA of Entamoeba histolytica and conventional PCR for pus. RESULTS A total 113 samples (serum and urine) and 100 pus samples were analysed. A total of 62 ALA patients were confirmed; with maximum 57 patients detected by qPCR for cfDNA in the serum, 55 patients by PCR on pus aspirate and 50 ALA patients by qPCR for cfDNA in urine sample. Therefore, the sensitivity of qPCR for detection of cf DNA in serum was 91.94% and for urine was 80.65%. CONCLUSION A total of 11.2% of ALA patients were diagnosed only through detection of E. histolytica cf DNA in their serum and urine. Detection of cfDNA from serum, urine of ALA has a potential role in future especially for developing countries as it is a rapid, sensitive and patient friendly diagnostic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Datta
- Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Divya Rattan
- Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Devyani Sharma
- Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Navneet Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Naveen Kalra
- Department of Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ajay Duseja
- Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Archana Angrup
- Department of Medical Microbiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rakesh Sehgal
- Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
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Schoener ER, Tompkins DM, Howe L, Castro IC. New insight into avian malaria vectors in New Zealand. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:150. [PMID: 38519966 PMCID: PMC10958882 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06196-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are vectors for most malaria parasites of the Plasmodium species and are required for Plasmodium spp. to complete their life cycle. Despite having 16 species of mosquitoes and the detection of many Plasmodium species in birds, little is known about the role of different mosquito species in the avian malaria life cycle in New Zealand. METHODS In this study, we used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR to determine Plasmodium spp. prevalence and diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences in wild-caught mosquitoes sampled across ten sites on the North Island of New Zealand during 2012-2014. The mosquitoes were pooled by species and location collected, and the thorax and abdomens were examined separately for Plasmodium spp. DNA. Akaike information criterion (AIC) modeling was used to test whether location, year of sampling, and mosquito species were significant predictors of minimum infection rates (MIR). RESULTS We collected 788 unengorged mosquitoes of six species, both native and introduced. The most frequently caught mosquito species were the introduced Aedes notoscriptus and the native Culex pervigilans. Plasmodium sp DNA was detected in 37% of matched thorax and abdomen pools. When considered separately, 33% of abdomen and 23% of thorax pools tested positive by nested PCR. The MIR of the positive thorax pools from introduced mosquito species was 1.79% for Ae. notoscriptus and 0% for Cx. quinquefasciatus, while the MIR for the positive thorax pools of native mosquito species was 4.9% for Cx. pervigilans and 0% for Opifex fuscus. For the overall MIR, site and mosquito species were significant predictors of Plasmodium overall MIR. Aedes notoscriptus and Cx. pervigilans were positive for malaria DNA in the thorax samples, indicating that they may play a role as avian malaria vectors. Four different Plasmodium lineages (SYAT05, LINN1, GRW6, and a new lineage of P (Haemamoeba) sp. AENOT11) were identified in the pooled samples. CONCLUSIONS This is the first detection of avian Plasmodium DNA extracted from thoraxes of native Culex and introduced Aedes mosquito species in New Zealand and therefore the first study providing an indication of potential vectors in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Schoener
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS), Ecology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Laboklin-Labor Für Klinische Diagnostik GMBH& Co. KG, Abteilung Molekularbiologie, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - D M Tompkins
- Predator Free 2050 Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L Howe
- School of Veterinary Science, Tāwharau Ora, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
| | - I C Castro
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS), Ecology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Hutagalung SV, Rattaprasert P, Promptmas C, Moonsom S, Yongkiettrakul S, Thima K, Chavalitshewinkoon-Petmitr P. Development of nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay for molecular detection of Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba dispar in stool samples. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6635. [PMID: 38503871 PMCID: PMC10951296 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57332-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba moshkovskii, recently known as a possible pathogenic amoeba, and the non-pathogenic Entamoeba dispar are morphologically indistinguishable by microscopy. Although PCR was used for differential diagnosis, gel electrophoresis is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and exposed to hazardous elements. In this study, nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (NALFIA) was developed to detect E. moshkovskii and E. dispar by post-PCR amplicon analysis. E. moshkovskii primers were labeled with digoxigenin and biotin whereas primers of E. dispar were lebeled with FITC and digoxigenin. The gold nanoparticles were labeled with antibodies corresponding to particular labeling. Based on the established assay, NALFIA could detect as low as 975 fg of E. moshkovskii target DNA (982 parasites or 196 parasites/microliter), and 487.5 fg of E. dispar target DNA (444 parasites or 89 parasites/microliter) without cross-reactivity to other tested intestinal organisms. After testing 91 stool samples, NALFIA was able to detect seven E. moshkovskii (87.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity) and eight E. dispar samples (66.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity) compared to real-time PCR. Interestingly, it detected three mixed infections as real-time PCR. Therefore, it can be a rapid, safe, and effective method for the detection of the emerging pathogens E. moshkovskii and E. dispar in stool samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunna Vyatra Hutagalung
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pongruj Rattaprasert
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Chamras Promptmas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - Saengduen Moonsom
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | | | - Kanthinich Thima
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
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Manzini S, Bertozzo TV, Aires IN, Rodrigues NJL, Bertolini AB, Alexandrino M, Steinle JS, de Melo RPB, Mota RA, de Medeiros MIM, Richini-Pereira VB, Curci VCLM, Lucheis SB. Comparison of molecular techniques for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in raw bovine milk from small rural properties in Brazil. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 409:110466. [PMID: 37925885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to research Toxoplasma gondii DNA in 102 samples of raw bovine milk from expansion tanks, in small properties located in different cities of the Midwest region of São Paulo, Brazil. For this, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with the primers TOX4/TOX5 for cPCR (conventional PCR), TgNP1/TgNP2 gene for nested PCR and the Tg18s58F/Tg18s348R for nested PCR. It was possible to detect T. gondii DNA in 18 (17.65 %) milk samples from the 102 tanks, corresponding to 4.90 % for TOX4/TOX5 primers, 12.74 % for TgNP1/TgNP2 gene and 0.98 % for Tg18s58F/Tg18s348R gene. The results showed that the TgNP1 and TgNP2 genes were more efficient to detect T. gondii DNA, and also indicated the importance of raw bovine milk as a source of human infections caused by this protozoan, being a public health problem. It is important to continue studies involving T. gondii from bovine milk considering the need for proper pasteurization, and for better comprehension regarding the epidemiology of this protozoan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzane Manzini
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Thainá Valente Bertozzo
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Isabella Neves Aires
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Nássarah Jabur Lot Rodrigues
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Bezerra Bertolini
- Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Marcela Alexandrino
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Jackieline Sampaio Steinle
- Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | | | - Rinaldo Aparecido Mota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Simone Baldini Lucheis
- Tropical Diseases and Image Diagnosis Department, Medical College, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil; Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department (FMVZ), Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil; São Paulo State Agency for Agribusiness Technology (APTA/SAA), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Pasquier G, Andreotti Q, Ravel C, Sterkers Y. Molecular diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis: a French study comparing a reference PCR method targeting kinetoplast DNA and a commercial kit targeting ribosomal DNA. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0215423. [PMID: 37819127 PMCID: PMC10714885 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02154-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE PCR revolutionized the direct diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially protozooses, where the infectious load is usually low. Commercial PCR methods are available and offer many advantages, including convenience and batch tracking as part of a quality system. For most parameters, the performance of commercial methods is at least as good as that of finely optimized methods developed in expert laboratories. This comparison work has not been done for the molecular diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmania sp. has a unique organelle, the kinetoplast, which corresponds to the mitochondrial DNA. It is organized into a large number of minicircles, which has made it a target for the development of diagnostic PCR. The quanty Leishmaniae, Clonit kit targeting ribosomal DNA was compared to a widely used laboratory-developed method based on kinetoplast DNA. This reference method gave significantly better results, probably due to the difference in the number of repeats of the PCR targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Pasquier
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Center for Leishmaniasis, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Quentin Andreotti
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Center for Leishmaniasis, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Ravel
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Center for Leishmaniasis, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Yvon Sterkers
- Department of Parasitology-Mycology, National Reference Center for Leishmaniasis, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Zhu S, Camp L, Patel A, VanWormer E, Shapiro K. High prevalence and diversity of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in feral cat feces from coastal California. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011829. [PMID: 38100522 PMCID: PMC10756541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can cause severe morbidity and mortality in warm-blooded animals, including marine mammals such as sea otters. Free-ranging cats can shed environmentally resistant T. gondii oocysts in their feces, which are transported through rain-driven runoff from land to sea. Despite their large population sizes and ability to contribute to environmental oocyst contamination, there are limited studies on T. gondii oocyst shedding by free-ranging cats. We aimed to determine the frequency and genotypes of T. gondii oocysts shed by free-ranging domestic cats in central coastal California and evaluate whether genotypes present in feces are similar to those identified in sea otters that died from fatal toxoplasmosis. We utilized a longitudinal field study of four free-ranging cat colonies to assess oocyst shedding prevalence using microscopy and molecular testing with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). T. gondii DNA was confirmed with primers targeting the ITS1 locus and positive samples were genotyped at the B1 locus. While oocysts were not visualized using microscopy (0/404), we detected T. gondii DNA in 25.9% (94/362) of fecal samples. We genotyped 27 samples at the B1 locus and characterized 13 of these samples at one to three additional loci using multi locus sequence typing (MLST). Parasite DNA detection was significantly higher during the wet season (16.3%, 59/362) compared to the dry season (9.7%; 35/362), suggesting seasonal variation in T. gondii DNA presence in feces. High diversity of T. gondii strains was characterized at the B1 locus, including non-archetypal strains previously associated with sea otter mortalities. Free-ranging cats may thus play an important role in the transmission of virulent T. gondii genotypes that cause morbidity and mortality in marine wildlife. Management of free-ranging cat colonies could reduce environmental contamination with oocysts and subsequent T. gondii infection in endangered marine mammals and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lauren Camp
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Anika Patel
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Karen Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Chicharro C, Nieto J, Miguelañez S, Garcia E, Ortega S, Peña A, Rubio JM, Flores-Chavez M. Molecular Diagnosis of Leishmaniasis in Spain: Development and Validation of Ready-To-Use Gel-Form Nested and Real-Time PCRs To Detect Leishmania spp. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0335422. [PMID: 37014253 PMCID: PMC10269443 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03354-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an endemic parasitic disease in at least 98 countries. In Spain, it is considered a zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum, with an annual incidence of 0.62 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The predominant clinical manifestations are the cutaneous (CL) and visceral forms (VL), and the diagnosis is performed by parasitological, serological, and molecular tests. At the WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis (WHOCCLeish), routine diagnostic tests are based on a nested PCR (Ln-PCR), culture, and serological tests. To simplify our PCR protocol, we aimed to develop and validate a ready-to-use nested gel-form PCR (LeishGelPCR) and a duplex real-time PCR (qPCR) that allowed simultaneous detection of Leishmania and mammalian DNA as an internal control (Leish-qPCR). Clinical validation was performed in 200 samples from the WHOCCLeish collection; 92 and 85 out of 94 and 87 samples were positive by LeishGelPCR and Leish-qPCR, respectively, showing a sensitivity of 98% in both approaches. The specificity was 100% for LeishGelPCR and 98% for Leish-qPCR. The limits of detection of both protocols were similar (0.5 and 0.2 parasites/reaction). Parasite loads in VL and CL forms were similar, although high loads were observed when invasive samples were tested. In conclusion, LeishGelPCR and Leish-qPCR showed excellent performance in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. These new forms of 18S rRNA gene PCR are equivalent to Ln-PCR and can be introduced in the algorithm for CL and VL diagnosis. IMPORTANCE Although the gold standard for diagnosis of leishmaniasis is the microscopic observation of amastigotes, molecular techniques are becoming a cost-efficient alternative. Currently, PCR is a routine resource that is used in many reference microbiology laboratories. In this article, we have described two ways to improve the reproducibility and usability of the molecular detection of Leishmania spp. These new approaches could be introduced even in middle- and low-resource laboratories; one is a ready-to-use gel-form system of a nested PCR and the other is a real-time PCR. We show why molecular diagnosis is the best methodology to confirm a clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis with higher sensitivity than traditional methods, thus facilitating early diagnosis and timely treatment of human leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Chicharro
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis (WHOCCLeish), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Nieto
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis (WHOCCLeish), Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Miguelañez
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis (WHOCCLeish), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilia Garcia
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis (WHOCCLeish), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sheila Ortega
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Peña
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Miguel Rubio
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Flores-Chavez
- Reference and Research Laboratory for Parasitology, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Madrid, Spain
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Flores-Chavez MD, Abras A, Ballart C, Ibáñez-Perez I, Perez-Gordillo P, Gállego M, Muñoz C, Moure Z, Sulleiro E, Nieto J, García Diez E, Simón L, Cruz I, Picado A. Parasitemia Levels in Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Spain, an Area Where the Disease Is Not Endemic: Trends by Different Molecular Approaches. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0262822. [PMID: 36190410 PMCID: PMC9603785 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02628-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi infection has expanded globally through human migration. In Spain, the mother-to-child route is the mode of transmission contributing to autochthonous Chagas disease (CD); however, most people acquired the infection in their country of origin and were diagnosed in the chronic phase (imported chronic CD). In this context, we assessed the quantitative potential of the Loopamp Trypanosoma cruzi detection kit (Sat-TcLAMP) based on satellite DNA (Sat-DNA) to determine parasitemia levels compared to those detected by real-time quantitative PCRs (qPCRs) targeting Sat-DNA (Sat-qPCR) and kinetoplast DNA minicircles (kDNA-qPCR). This study included 173 specimens from 39 autochthonous congenital and 116 imported chronic CD cases diagnosed in Spain. kDNA-qPCR showed higher sensitivity than Sat-qPCR and Sat-TcLAMP. According to all quantitative approaches, parasitemia levels were significantly higher in congenital infection than in chronic CD (1 × 10-1 to 5 × 105 versus >1 × 10-1 to 6 × 103 parasite equivalents/mL, respectively [P < 0.001]). Sat-TcLAMP, Sat-qPCR, and kDNA-qPCR results were equivalent at high levels of parasitemia (P = 0.381). Discrepancies were significant for low levels of parasitemia and older individuals. Differences between Sat-TcLAMP and Sat-qPCR were not qualitatively significant, but estimations of parasitemia using Sat-TcLAMP were closer to those by kDNA-qPCR. Parasitemia changes were assessed in 6 individual cases in follow-up, in which trends showed similar patterns by all quantitative approaches. At high levels of parasitemia, Sat-TcLAMP, Sat-qPCR, and kDNA-qPCR worked similarly, but significant differences were found for the low levels characteristic of late chronic CD. A suitable harmonization strategy needs to be developed for low-level parasitemia detection using Sat-DNA- and kDNA-based tests. IMPORTANCE Currently, molecular equipment has been introduced into many health care centers, even in low-income countries. PCR, qPCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are becoming more accessible for the diagnosis of neglected infectious diseases. Chagas disease (CD) is spreading worldwide, and in countries where the disease is not endemic, such as Spain, the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted from mother to child (congenital CD). Here, we explore why LAMP, aimed at detecting T. cruzi parasite DNA, is a reliable option for the diagnosis of congenital CD and the early detection of reactivation in chronic infection. When the parasite load is high, LAMP is equivalent to any qPCR. In addition, the estimations of T. cruzi parasitemia in patients living in Spain, a country where the disease is not endemic, resemble natural evolution in areas of endemicity. If molecular tests are introduced into the diagnostic algorithm for congenital infection, early diagnosis and timely treatment would be accomplished, so the interruption of vertical transmission can be an achievable goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D. Flores-Chavez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Mundo Sano-España, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Abras
- Departament de Biologia, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Cristina Ballart
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ismael Ibáñez-Perez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Montserrat Gállego
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Muñoz
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Zaira Moure
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Vall d’Hebron Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Nieto
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilia García Diez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Simón
- National Centre of Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel Cruz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Albert Picado
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
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Ode S, Jarikre T, Jubril AJ, Ularamu H, Luka P, Adamu M, Emikpe B. High prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Nigerian wild rats by molecular detection. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 35:100776. [PMID: 36184107 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis has been reported in Nigeria using several diagnostic tools with high prevalence in humans and some food animals. Rodents have been recognised as vital intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. However, there is paucity of information on the occurrence of T. gondii in wild rats found in Nigeria. This study aimed at molecular detection of T. gondii in Zyzomys pedunculatus and to evaluate its involvement in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Nigeria. A total of 84 rats were sampled across three states of the North Central Nigeria, and DNA was extracted from the brain, lungs, kidney and intestine of the rats for the detection of T. gondii DNA by nested PCR to amplify the multicopy B1 gene. Sixty-four of the 84 samples (76.2%) were positive for T. gondii out of which 5 samples were sequenced and had an identity score of between 97.73% and 99.35% with the reference B1 gene of T. gondii in GenBank. This study suggests Nigerian wild rats may be an important intermediate hosts of T. gondii and may play a role in the epidemiology and maintenance of T. gondii circulation in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ode
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.
| | - Theophilus Jarikre
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Afusat Jagun Jubril
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Hussaini Ularamu
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Pam Luka
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Mathew Adamu
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria
| | - Benjamin Emikpe
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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12
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Cao Z, Zhang K, Yin D, Zhang Q, Yu Y, Wen J, Ni H. Clinical validation of visual LAMP and qLAMP assays for the rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1024690. [PMID: 36225232 PMCID: PMC9548649 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1024690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are exposed to Toxoplasma gondii infection as pet cats gradually become family members and represent an increasing public health risk worldwide. Toxoplasmosis diagnosis constitutes an important measure for disease prevention and control. In this study, real-time fluorescence quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification (qLAMP) and visual LAMP detection technologies were established to conduct tests of T. gondii based on the membrane DNA extraction method, and the optimal detection mix was determined by adding the protective reagent trehalose and screening the concentrations of Mg2+ and dNTPs. Paraffin and lyophilization were used to reduce and even remove aerosol pollution, constructing a detailed anti-contamination protocol. Based on the positive standard plasmid DNA, the LODs of qLAMP and visual LAMP were 92 copies/μL and 92 copies/μL, and the standard curve of qLAMP was Y=2.9503X+20.8992 with R2 = 0.99. The applicability of the qLAMP and visual LAMP assays in disease diagnosis was assessed by evaluating 200 clinical cat faeces samples. The assays showed good diagnostic consistency, with kappa values of 1.0 and 0.99 compared with TaqMan qPCR, respectively. Compared with TaqMan qPCR, the diagnostic specificity/sensitivity of qLAMP and visual LAMP were 100%/100% and 100%/80%, respectively. The qLAMP and visual LAMP assays reported here are rapid and simple tests without extensive sample preparation and have a short turnaround time within 60 min, making them suitable for point-of-care testing.
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Kumari P, Sinha S, Gahtori R, Quadiri A, Mahale P, Savargaonkar D, Pande V, Srivastava B, Singh H, Anvikar AR. Comparative Assessment of Diagnostic Performance of Cytochrome Oxidase Multiplex PCR and 18S rRNA Nested PCR. Korean J Parasitol 2022; 60:295-299. [PMID: 36041492 PMCID: PMC9441448 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2022.60.4.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Malaria elimination and control require prompt and accurate diagnosis for treatment plan. Since microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) are not sensitive particularly for diagnosing low parasitemia, highly sensitive diagnostic tools are required for accurate treatment. Molecular diagnosis of malaria is commonly carried out by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 18S rRNA gene, while this technique involves long turnaround time and multiple steps leading to false positive results. To overcome these drawbacks, we compared highly sensitive cytochrome oxidase gene-based single-step multiplex reaction with 18S rRNA nested PCR. Cytochrome oxidase (cox) genes of P. falciparum (cox-III) and P. vivax (cox-I) were compared with 18S rRNA gene nested PCR and microscopy. Cox gene multiplex PCR was found to be highly specific and sensitive, enhancing the detection limit of mixed infections. Cox gene multiplex PCR showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97%. This approach can be used as an alternative diagnostic method as it offers higher diagnostic performance and is amenable to high throughput scaling up for a larger sample size at low cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Kumari
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Swati Sinha
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Renuka Gahtori
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Paras Mahale
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | - Veena Pande
- Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Bina Srivastava
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Himmat Singh
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Anupkumar R Anvikar
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
- Corresponding author ()
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Rico-Torres CP, Valenzuela-Moreno LF, Méndez-Cruz ST, Cedillo-Peláez C, Caballero-Ortega H. Can cloning and sequencing help to genotype positive Toxoplasma gondii clinical samples? Results and validation using SAG3 as a model. Infect Genet Evol 2022; 101:105283. [PMID: 35421607 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Genotyping of T. gondii in human cases is relevant to understand the transmission patterns and epidemiology of this parasitosis. However, this genetic characterization can be hampered by the difficulty of isolating the parasite from mild or asymptomatic cases and by the detection efficiency of molecular assays such as the multilocus nested-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mn-PCR-RLFP). To propose an alternative for the genotyping of positive clinical samples of T. gondii with a low amount of the parasite DNA mixed within the host DNA or mixed infections, we carried out this study to validate the sequences of the SAG3 gene of T. gondii obtained after two rounds of amplification cloned into a bacterial model, thereby achieving the separation and identification of more than one genotype of T. gondii. Also, the detection limit of the parasite DNA and the fidelity of the reagents used in the nested PCR-RFLP in artificial clinical samples by sequencing were determined. T. gondii DNA was detected from 6.25 ng of DNA and 200 parasites/mL of blood. The fidelity of the AmpliTaq Gold™ polymerase after 65 cycles of amplification was 100%. Denaturation of the products obtained after two rounds of nested PCR amplification showed no evidence of chimera or artifact production. The cloning efficiency was 97.5% (39/40 clones), and none of the experiments produced recombinant sequences. Thus, the generation of chimeras with this methodology could be ruled out. Genotyping of clinical samples is important because there is no strain selection bias, as can occur in the bioassay (where more virulent strains can be selected over nonvirulent strains), and therefore, mixed infections can be detected through cloning and sequencing. Furthermore, these two techniques could be useful tools to genotype weak amplicons of any T. gondii gene obtained during nested PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Patricia Rico-Torres
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Colonia Insurgentes-Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, 04530 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Fernando Valenzuela-Moreno
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Colonia Insurgentes-Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, 04530 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sara Teresa Méndez-Cruz
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Colonia Insurgentes-Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, 04530 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Carlos Cedillo-Peláez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Colonia Insurgentes-Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, 04530 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Heriberto Caballero-Ortega
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Colonia Insurgentes-Cuicuilco, Delegación Coyoacán, 04530 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Herath S, Balendran T, Herath A, Iddawela D, Wickramasinghe S. Comparison of diagnostic methods and analysis of socio-demographic factors associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in Sri Lanka. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258556. [PMID: 34644344 PMCID: PMC8513885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichomonas vaginalis infection is underreported due to nonspecific clinical presentation and the nonavailability of sensitive laboratory diagnostic tests at the clinical setup. Hence, this study was designed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy and culture methods with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The socio-demographic factors associated with the infection were explored. METHODS The study was carried out at the National Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Control Programme in Colombo and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Control Programme in Kandy. Samples were collected from a total of 385 patients including, 272 females (70.7%) and 113 males (29.3%), and tested using microscopy (wet mount and Giemsa staining), culture, and PCR. Genus-specific primer set (TFR1/TFR2) that amplifies 5.8S rRNA and species-specific primer sets (TV16Sf-2/TV16Sr-2 and TVK3/7) that amplifies 18S rRNA and repetitive DNA, respectively, were used. Patient's socio-demographic and sexual behaviour data were obtained using a standard interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed with R statistical software Version 3.6.3. RESULTS The overall prevalence of trichomoniasis was 4.4% (17/385). Of these, six (1.6%) were positive for microscopic examination, 7 (1.8%) were positive for culture, and 13 (3.4%) for TVK3/7, 15 (3.9%) for TV16Sf/r, and TFR1/2 17 (4.4%) were positive for PCR. Sensitivities of PCR using TFR1/2, TV16Sf/r, and TVK3/7 primer sets were 100%, 88.20%, and 76.50%, respectively, against the expanded gold standard. Trichomoniasis was associated with age above 36 (p = 0.033), not using condoms in last three months (p = 0.016), multiple sex partners (p = 0.001), reason for attendance (p = 0.027), symptomatic nature (p = 0.015), and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted that age over 36 years, multiple sex partners, not using condoms, reason for attendance, symptomatic nature, and having other sexually transmitted diseases can increase the risk of acquiring trichomoniasis. Furthermore, this study confirmed PCR as highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis in comparison to microscopy and culture methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayuri Herath
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Thivya Balendran
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Akila Herath
- Department of Statistics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Devika Iddawela
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- * E-mail: (DI); (SW)
| | - Susiji Wickramasinghe
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- * E-mail: (DI); (SW)
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Alí Santoro G, Starcenbaum Bouchez MI, Cittadino E, Drago SB, Leguizamón MS, Burgos JM. Case Report: Molecular Detection and Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi in Ocular Tissue from Donors with Chagas Disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 105:1698-1700. [PMID: 34607312 PMCID: PMC8641358 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal transplantation is the most frequent transplant worldwide. Tissue characteristics allow storage and transport, even between continents, increasing its accessibility around the world. Donor infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is not defined as a corneal discarding factor, although the transplant is not recommended preventively, as in any infectious diseases. Herein, by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategies, we analyzed parasite presence in ocular tissue from 10 deceased donors with Chagas diseases. Among them, positive findings were obtained in corneas, scleras, and eye muscle samples of three, two, and one donor, respectively. Moreover, among the six T. cruzi defined populations, TcV and TcVI parasites were found in some samples based on group-specific amplification strategies. Our findings point out the actual possibility of T. cruzi transmission due to corneal transplantation and makes donor's serological status knowledge mandatory regardless of graft provenance. Failing that, we suggest a posttransplant follow-up of recipients from seropositive donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Alí Santoro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBIO-UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Sofía Belén Drago
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBIO-UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Susana Leguizamón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBIO-UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan M. Burgos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIBIO-UNSAM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kapulu MC, Njuguna P, Hamaluba M, Kimani D, Ngoi JM, Musembi J, Ngoto O, Otieno E, Billingsley PF. Safety and PCR monitoring in 161 semi-immune Kenyan adults following controlled human malaria infection. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e146443. [PMID: 34264864 PMCID: PMC8492329 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.146443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDNaturally acquired immunity to malaria is incompletely understood. We used controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) to study the impact of past exposure on malaria in Kenyan adults in relation to infection with a non-Kenyan parasite strain.METHODSWe administered 3.2 × 103 aseptic, purified, cryopreserved Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (Sanaria PfSPZ Challenge, NF54 West African strain) by direct venous inoculation and undertook clinical monitoring and serial quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. The study endpoint was met when parasitemia reached 500 or more parasites per μL blood, clinically important symptoms were seen, or at 21 days after inoculation. All volunteers received antimalarial drug treatment upon meeting the endpoint.RESULTSOne hundred and sixty-one volunteers underwent CHMI between August 4, 2016, and February 14, 2018. CHMI was well tolerated, with no severe or serious adverse events. Nineteen volunteers (11.8%) were excluded from the analysis based on detection of antimalarial drugs above the minimal inhibitory concentration or parasites genotyped as non-NF54. Of the 142 volunteers who were eligible for analysis, 26 (18.3%) had febrile symptoms and were treated; 30 (21.1%) reached 500 or more parasites per μL and were treated; 53 (37.3%) had parasitemia without meeting thresholds for treatment; and 33 (23.2%) remained qPCR negative.CONCLUSIONWe found that past exposure to malaria, as evidenced by location of residence, in some Kenyan adults can completely suppress in vivo growth of a parasite strain originating from outside Kenya.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT02739763.FUNDINGWellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa C. Kapulu
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Njuguna
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Mainga Hamaluba
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Domtila Kimani
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Joyce M. Ngoi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Janet Musembi
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Omar Ngoto
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edward Otieno
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
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Abstract
PURPOSE To determine classification criteria for toxoplasmic retinitis. DESIGN Machine learning of cases with toxoplasmic retinitis and 4 other infectious posterior uveitides / panuveitides. METHODS Cases of infectious posterior uveitides / panuveitides were collected in an informatics-designed preliminary database, and a final database was constructed of cases achieving supermajority agreement on diagnosis, using formal consensus techniques. Cases were split into a training set and a validation set. Machine learning using multinomial logistic regression was used on the training set to determine a parsimonious set of criteria that minimized the misclassification rate among the infectious posterior uveitides / panuveitides. The resulting criteria were evaluated on the validation set. RESULTS Eight hundred three cases of infectious posterior uveitides / panuveitides, including 174 cases of toxoplasmic retinitis, were evaluated by machine learning. Key criteria for toxoplasmic retinitis included focal or paucifocal necrotizing retinitis and either positive polymerase chain reaction assay for Toxoplasma gondii from an intraocular specimen or the characteristic clinical picture of a round or oval retinitis lesion proximal to a hyperpigmented and/or atrophic chorioretinal scar. Overall accuracy for infectious posterior uveitides / panuveitides was 92.1% in the training set and 93.3% (95% confidence interval 88.2, 96.3) in the validation set. The misclassification rates for toxoplasmic retinitis were 8.2% in the training set and 10% in the validation set. CONCLUSIONS The criteria for toxoplasmic retinitis had a low misclassification rate and seemed to perform sufficiently well for use in clinical and translational research.
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Mthethwa NP, Amoah ID, Reddy P, Bux F, Kumari S. A review on application of next-generation sequencing methods for profiling of protozoan parasites in water: Current methodologies, challenges, and perspectives. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 187:106269. [PMID: 34129906 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The advancement in metagenomic techniques has provided novel tools for profiling human parasites in environmental matrices, such as water and wastewater. However, application of metagenomic techniques for the profiling of protozoan parasites in environmental matrices is not commonly reported in the literature. The key factors leading to the less common use of metagenomics are the complexity and large eukaryotic genome, the prevalence of small parasite populations in environmental samples compared to bacteria, difficulties in extracting DNA from (oo)cysts, and limited reference databases for parasites. This calls for further research to develop optimized methods specifically looking at protozoan parasites in the environment. This study reviews the current workflow, methods and provide recommendations for the standardization of techniques. The article identifies and summarizes the key methods, advantages, and limitations associated with metagenomic analysis, like sample pre-processing, DNA extraction, sequencing approaches, and analysis methods. The study enhances the understanding and application of standardized protocols for profiling of protozoan parasite community from highly complexe samples and further creates a resourceful comparison among datasets without any biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- N P Mthethwa
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - I D Amoah
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - P Reddy
- Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - F Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - S Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa.
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20
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Russell TL, Grignard L, Apairamo A, Kama N, Bobogare A, Drakeley C, Burkot TR. Getting to zero: micro-foci of malaria in the Solomon Islands requires stratified control. Malar J 2021; 20:248. [PMID: 34090430 PMCID: PMC8180101 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03779-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Solomon Islands has made significant progress in the control of malaria through vector control, access and use of improved diagnostics and therapeutic drugs. As transmission is reduced there is a need to understand variations in transmission risk at the provincial and village levels to stratify control methods. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of malaria in humans was conducted in the Solomon Islands during April 2018. Nineteen villages across 4 provinces were included. The presence of Plasmodium species parasites in blood samples was detected using PCR. RESULTS Blood samples were analysed from 1,914 participants. The prevalence of DNA of Plasmodium falciparum was 1.2 % (n = 23) and for Plasmodium vivax was 1.5 % (n = 28). 22 % (n = 5/23) of P. falciparum DNA positive participants were febrile and 17 % of P. vivax DNA positive participants (n = 5/28). The prevalence of both P. falciparum and P. vivax was extremely spatially heterogeneous. For P. falciparum, in particular, only 2 small foci of transmission were identified among 19 villages. Plasmodium falciparum infections were uniformly distributed across age groups. Insecticide-treated bed net use the night prior to the survey was reported by 63 % of participants and significantly differed by province. CONCLUSIONS Malaria transmission across the Solomon Islands has become increasingly fragmented, affecting fewer villages and provinces. The majority of infections were afebrile suggesting the need for strong active case detection with radical cure with primaquine for P. vivax. Village-level stratification of targeted interventions based on passive and active case detection data could support the progress towards a more cost-effective and successful elimination programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya L Russell
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia.
| | - Lynn Grignard
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alan Apairamo
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Nathan Kama
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Albino Bobogare
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Thomas R Burkot
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
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21
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Schneider R, Lamien-Meda A, Auer H, Wiedermann-Schmidt U, Chiodini PL, Walochnik J. Validation of a novel FRET real-time PCR assay for simultaneous quantitative detection and discrimination of human Plasmodium parasites. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252887. [PMID: 34086817 PMCID: PMC8177637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing numbers of travelers returning from endemic areas, migrants, and refugees have led to a significant rise in the number of imported malaria cases in non-endemic countries. Real- time PCR serves as an excellent diagnostic tool, especially in regions where experience in microscopy is limited. A novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time PCR (FRET-qPCR) was developed and evaluated using 56 reference samples of the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) for molecular detection of malaria, including P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Species identification is based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the genome where the MalLC640 probe binds, lowering the melting temperature in the melting curve analysis. The novel FRET-qPCR achieved 100% (n = 56) correct results, compared to 96.43% performing nested PCR. The high sensitivity, with a calculated limit of detection of 199.97 parasites/mL blood for P. falciparum, is a significant advantage, especially if low-level parasitemia has to be ruled out. Even mixed infections of P. falciparum with P. vivax or P. ovale, respectively, were detected. In contrast to many other real-time PCR protocols, this novel FRET-qPCR allows the quantitative and species-specific detection of Plasmodium spp. in one single run. Solely, P. knowlesi was detected but could not be differentiated from P. vivax. The turnaround time of this novel FRET-qPCR including DNA extraction is less than two hours, qualifying it for routine clinical applications, including treatment monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renate Schneider
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aline Lamien-Meda
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herbert Auer
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter L. Chiodini
- UK NEQAS Parasitology, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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Nie Z, Zhao Y, Shu X, Li D, Ao Y, Li M, Wang S, Cui J, An X, Zhan X, He L, Liu Q, Zhao J. Recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow strip for detecting Babesia microti infections. Parasitol Int 2021; 83:102351. [PMID: 33872796 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Babesia microti is one of the most important pathogens causing humans and rodents babesiosis-an emerging tick-borne disease that occurs worldwide. At present, the gold standard for the detection of Babesia is the microscopic examination of blood smears, but this diagnostic test has several limitations. The recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow (LF-RPA) assay targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (cox I) gene of B. microti was developed in this study. The LF-RPA can be performed within 10-30 min, at a wide range of temperatures between 25 and 45 °C, which is much faster and easier to perform than conventional PCR. The results showed that the LF-RAP can detect 0.25 parasites/μl blood, which is 40 times more sensitive than the conventional PCR based on the V4 variable region of 18S rRNA. Specificity assay showed no cross-reactions with DNAs of related apicomplexan parasites and their host. The applicability of the LF-RPA method was further evaluated using two clinical human samples and six experimental mice samples, with seven samples were positively detected, while only three of them were defined as positive by conventional PCR. These results present the developed LF-RPA as a new simple, specific, sensitive, rapid and convenient method for diagnosing infection with B. microti. This novel assay was the potential to be used in field applications and large-scale sample screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yangnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xiang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Dongfang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yangsiqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Jie Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Qin Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
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Kim J, Lim DH, Mihn DC, Nam J, Jang WS, Lim CS. Clinical Usefulness of LabChip Real-time PCR using Lab-On-a-Chip Technology for Diagnosing Malaria. Korean J Parasitol 2021; 59:77-82. [PMID: 33684990 PMCID: PMC7939964 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.1.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As malaria remains a major health problem worldwide, various diagnostic tests have been developed, including microscopy-based and rapid diagnostic tests. LabChip real-time PCR (LRP) is a small and portable device used to diagnose malaria using lab-on-a-chip technology. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of LRP for detecting malaria parasites. Two hundred thirteen patients and 150 healthy individuals were enrolled from May 2009 to October 2015. A diagnostic detectability of LRP for malaria parasites was compared to that of conventional RT-PCR. Sensitivity of LRP for Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, and P. ovale was 95.5%, 96.0%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Specificity of LRP for P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, and P. ovale was 100%, 99.3%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Cohen’s Kappa coefficients between LRP and CFX96 for detecting P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, and P. ovale were 0.96, 0.98, 1.00, and 1.00, respectively. Significant difference was not observed between the results of LRP and conventional RT-PCR and microscopic examination. A time required to amplify DNAs using LRP and conventional RT-PCR was 27 min and 86 min, respectively. LRP amplified DNAs 2 times more fast than conventional RT-PCR due to the faster heat transfer. Therefore, LRP could be employed as a useful tool for detecting malaria parasites in clinical laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeyong Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Da Hye Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Do-CiC Mihn
- Department of Diagnostic Immunology, Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul 04805, Korea
| | - Jeonghun Nam
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Woong Sik Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Chae Seung Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08308, Korea
- Corresponding author ()
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Silva-Gomes NL, Apodaca S, Alarcón de Noya B, Díaz-Bello Z, Souza LRQ, Costa ADT, Britto C, Moreira OC, Schijman AG. Toward the Establishment of a Single Standard Curve for Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi Natural Populations Using a Synthetic Satellite Unit DNA Sequence. J Mol Diagn 2021; 23:521-531. [PMID: 33549859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate diagnostic tools and surrogate markers of parasitologic response to treatment are needed for managing Chagas disease. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is used for treatment monitoring, but variability in copy dosage and sequences of molecular target genes among different Trypanosoma cruzi strains limit the precision of quantitative measures. To improve qPCR quantification accuracy, we designed and evaluated a synthetic DNA molecule containing a satellite DNA (satDNA) repeat unit as standard for quantification of T. cruzi loads in clinical samples, independently of the parasite strain. Probit regression analysis established for Dm28c (TcI) and CL-Brener (TcVI) stocks similar 95% limit of detection values [0.903 (0.745 to 1.497) and 0.667 (CI, 0.113 to 3.927) copy numbers/μL, respectively] when synthetic DNA was the standard for quantification, allowing direct comparison of loads in samples infected with different discrete typing units. This standard curve was evaluated in 205 samples (38 acute oral and 19 chronic Chagas disease patients) from different geographical areas infected with various genotypes, including samples obtained during treatment follow-up; high agreement with parasitic load trends using standard curves based on DNA extracted from spiked blood with counted parasites was obtained. This qPCR-based quantification strategy will be a valuable tool in phase 3 clinical trials, to follow up patients under treatment or at risk of reactivation, and in experimental models using different parasite strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Lins Silva-Gomes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sofia Apodaca
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Leticia Rocha Quintino Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa
- Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Snak A, Henrique SM, Sebolt APR, Cristani J, Sato ME, Miletti LC, de Moura AB. Experimental infection of tachyzoites of the NC1 strain of Neosporacaninum in female swine. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1049-1057. [PMID: 33506333 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a protozoan that can cause reproductive problems in several animal species. Although N. caninum infection has been reported in swine, the pathogenesis and clinical signs are not fully known in this species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of experimental infection with tachyzoites of the N. caninum strain Nc1 in swine matrices at different stages of gestation. For that purpose, 12 gilts, seronegative for N. caninum and T. gondii, were selected and allocated into four groups of three animals each. Animals in group A were not inoculated (control) and animals in groups B, C, and D were inoculated intravenously with of 2.9 × 107 tachyzoites, 30 days before conception, and at 45 and 90 days of gestation, respectively. Temperature, heart rate, blood, saliva, and vaginal mucus samples from the animals were collected periodically until the time of delivery for the investigation of IgG and IgM antibodies against N. caninum using IFAT and PCR to detect the parasite DNA. All gilts sero-converted from 5 and 7 DPI (days postinoculation) to IgM and IgG, respectively. Two gilts showed hypothermia on the 5th and 7th DPI, and five inoculated animals had leukocytosis on the 7th DPI. It was possible to detect DNA of N. caninum in samples of saliva (33/84), vaginal mucus (17/84), and blood (2/84). Based on serology (IgM) and PCR, three animals in group B showed evidence of reappearance of the infection during pregnancy. It is concluded that N. caninum can cause clinical signs in infected swine females, in addition to indicating saliva as a suitable diagnostic biological material for the detection of N. caninum DNA in this animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Snak
- Universidade do Estado de SantaCatarina, Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
| | | | | | - José Cristani
- Universidade do Estado de SantaCatarina, Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Mere Erika Sato
- Universidade do Estado de SantaCatarina, Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Farhat S, Le P, Kayal E, Noel B, Bigeard E, Corre E, Maumus F, Florent I, Alberti A, Aury JM, Barbeyron T, Cai R, Da Silva C, Istace B, Labadie K, Marie D, Mercier J, Rukwavu T, Szymczak J, Tonon T, Alves-de-Souza C, Rouzé P, Van de Peer Y, Wincker P, Rombauts S, Porcel BM, Guillou L. Rapid protein evolution, organellar reductions, and invasive intronic elements in the marine aerobic parasite dinoflagellate Amoebophrya spp. BMC Biol 2021; 19:1. [PMID: 33407428 PMCID: PMC7789003 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00927-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dinoflagellates are aquatic protists particularly widespread in the oceans worldwide. Some are responsible for toxic blooms while others live in symbiotic relationships, either as mutualistic symbionts in corals or as parasites infecting other protists and animals. Dinoflagellates harbor atypically large genomes (~ 3 to 250 Gb), with gene organization and gene expression patterns very different from closely related apicomplexan parasites. Here we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two early-diverging and co-occurring parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya strains, to shed light on the emergence of such atypical genomic features, dinoflagellate evolution, and host specialization. RESULTS We sequenced, assembled, and annotated high-quality genomes for two Amoebophrya strains (A25 and A120), using a combination of Illumina paired-end short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION long-read sequencing approaches. We found a small number of transposable elements, along with short introns and intergenic regions, and a limited number of gene families, together contribute to the compactness of the Amoebophrya genomes, a feature potentially linked with parasitism. While the majority of Amoebophrya proteins (63.7% of A25 and 59.3% of A120) had no functional assignment, we found many orthologs shared with Dinophyceae. Our analyses revealed a strong tendency for genes encoded by unidirectional clusters and high levels of synteny conservation between the two genomes despite low interspecific protein sequence similarity, suggesting rapid protein evolution. Most strikingly, we identified a large portion of non-canonical introns, including repeated introns, displaying a broad variability of associated splicing motifs never observed among eukaryotes. Those introner elements appear to have the capacity to spread over their respective genomes in a manner similar to transposable elements. Finally, we confirmed the reduction of organelles observed in Amoebophrya spp., i.e., loss of the plastid, potential loss of a mitochondrial genome and functions. CONCLUSION These results expand the range of atypical genome features found in basal dinoflagellates and raise questions regarding speciation and the evolutionary mechanisms at play while parastitism was selected for in this particular unicellular lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farhat
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA
| | - Phuong Le
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ehsan Kayal
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Benjamin Noel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Estelle Bigeard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Erwan Corre
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Florian Maumus
- URGI, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
| | - Isabelle Florent
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Adriana Alberti
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Tristan Barbeyron
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8227, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Ruibo Cai
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Corinne Da Silva
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Benjamin Istace
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Dominique Marie
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Jonathan Mercier
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Tsinda Rukwavu
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Jeremy Szymczak
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Thierry Tonon
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Catharina Alves-de-Souza
- Algal Resources Collection, MARBIONC, Center for Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA
| | - Pierre Rouzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Stephane Rombauts
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Betina M Porcel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France.
| | - Laure Guillou
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France.
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Garrod G, Adams ER, Lingley JK, Saldanha I, Torr SJ, Cunningham LJ. A pilot study demonstrating the identification of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense in vectors using a multiplexed high-resolution melt qPCR. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008308. [PMID: 33237917 PMCID: PMC7725321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a potentially fatal parasitic infection caused by the trypanosome sub-species Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense transmitted by tsetse flies. Currently, global HAT case numbers are reaching less than 1 case per 10,000 people in many disease foci. As such, there is a need for simple screening tools and strategies to replace active screening of the human population which can be maintained post-elimination for Gambian HAT and long-term for Rhodesian HAT. Here, we describe the proof of principle application of a novel high-resolution melt assay for the xenomonitoring of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense in tsetse. Both novel and previously described primers which target species-specific single copy genes were used as part of a multiplex qPCR. An additional primer set was included in the multiplex to determine if samples had sufficient genomic material for detecting genes present in low copy number. The assay was evaluated on 96 wild-caught tsetse previously identified to be positive for T. brucei s. l. of which two were known to be positive for T. b. rhodesiense. The assay was found to be highly specific with no cross-reactivity with non-target trypanosome species and the assay limit of detection was 104 tryps/mL. The qPCR successfully identified three T. b. rhodesiense positive flies, in agreement with the reference species-specific PCRs. This assay provides an alternative to running multiple PCRs when screening for pathogenic sub-species of T. brucei s. l. and produces results in less than 2 hours, avoiding gel electrophoresis and subjective analysis. This method could provide a component of a simple and efficient method of screening large numbers of tsetse flies in known HAT foci or in areas at risk of recrudescence or threatened by the changing distribution of both forms of HAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gala Garrod
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Emily R. Adams
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica K. Lingley
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Saldanha
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Torr
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucas J. Cunningham
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Filgueira CPB, Moreira OC, Cantanhêde LM, de Farias HMT, Porrozzi R, Britto C, Boité MC, Cupolillo E. Comparison and clinical validation of qPCR assays targeting Leishmania 18S rDNA and HSP70 genes in patients with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008750. [PMID: 33044986 PMCID: PMC7581006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a worldwide neglected disease, encompassing asymptomatic infections and different clinical forms, such as American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) which is part of the complex of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from Leishmania genus, transmitted by sand fly vectors. As a neglected disease, much effort is still needed in treatment and diagnosis. Currently, ATL diagnosis is mainly made by parasite detection by microscopy. The sensitivity of the method varies, and factors such as collection procedures interfere. Molecular approaches, specially based on Real Time PCR (qPCR) technique, has been widely used to detect Leishmania infection and to quantify parasite load, once it is a simple, rapid and sensitive methodology, capable to detect low parasite concentrations and less prone to variability. Although many studies have been already published addressing the use of this technique, an improvement on these methodologies, including an analytical validation, standardization and data association is demanded. Moreover, a proper validation by the assay by the use of clinical samples is still required. In this sense, the purpose of the present work is to compare the performance of qPCR using two commonly used targets (18S rDNA and HSP70) with an internal control (RNAse P) in multiplex reactions. Additionally, we validated reactions by assaying 88 samples from patients presenting different clinical forms of leishmaniasis (cutaneous, mucosal, recent and old lesions), representing the diversity found in Brazil's Amazon Region. Following the methodology proposed herein, the results indicate the use of both qPCR assays, 18S rDNA and HSP70, to achieve a very good net sensitivity (98.5%) and specificity (100%), performing simultaneous or sequential testing, respectively. With this approach, our main goal is to conclude the first step of a further multicenter study to propose the standardization of detection and quantification of Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Patricio Braga Filgueira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Lilian Motta Cantanhêde
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia Genética, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Martins Teixeira de Farias
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Porrozzi
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Côrtes Boité
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Hayashida K, Nambala P, Reet NV, Büscher P, Kawai N, Mutengo MM, Musaya J, Namangala B, Sugimoto C, Yamagishi J. Development of a bio-inkjet printed LAMP test kit for detecting human African trypanosomiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008753. [PMID: 33091922 PMCID: PMC7608988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is one of the neglected tropical diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Early diagnosis and treatment prior to disease progression are crucial for the survival of HAT patients. We had previously established a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for HAT diagnosis in which the reagents were dried for field-use purposes. In this study, we used a semi-automated process to produce the test tubes using a bio-inkjet printer to achieve an accurate production. The performance of the inkjet printer-produced dried LAMP test (CZC-LAMP) was found to be stable after storage for up to 180 days at 30 °C. The diagnostic accuracy of CZC-LAMP HAT was evaluated using DNA samples that were extracted from 116 Trypanosoma brucei gambiense patients and 66 T. b. rhodesiense patients. The sensitivity was 72% for T. b. gambiense (95%CI: 63%-80%) and 80% for T. b. rhodesiense (95%CI: 69%-89%). The specificity determined using DNA from 116 endemic control DNA samples was 95% (95%CI: 89%-98%). The performance of the CZC-LAMP HAT and CZC-LAMP rHAT were also evaluated using 14 crude blood lysate samples obtained from T. b. rhodesiense patients and endemic control samples collected from Rumphi District in Malawi. The sensitivity and specificity were both 100% (95%CI: 77%-100%). As the developed CZC-LAMP test does not require a cold chain or a sophisticated laboratory, it holds promise for use as a routine simple molecular tool for point-of-care HAT diagnosis in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoko Hayashida
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control (CZC), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Peter Nambala
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Nick Van Reet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Philippe Büscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Naoko Kawai
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control (CZC), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mable Mwale Mutengo
- Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Janelisa Musaya
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chihiro Sugimoto
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control (CZC), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control (CZC), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Victoria-Hernández JA, Ventura-Saucedo A, López-Morones A, Martínez-Hernández SL, Medina-Rosales MN, Muñoz-Ortega M, Ávila-Blanco ME, Cervantes-García D, Barba-Gallardo LF, Ventura-Juárez J. Case report: multiple and atypical amoebic cerebral abscesses resistant to treatment. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:669. [PMID: 32928130 PMCID: PMC7490879 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05391-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the causal agent of amoebiasis, a worldwide emerging disease. Amebic brain abscess is a form of invasive amebiasis that is both rare and frequently lethal. This condition always begins with the infection of the colon by E. histolytica trophozoites, which subsequently travel through the bloodstream to extraintestinal tissues. CASE PRESENTATION We report a case of a 71-year-old female who reported an altered state of consciousness, disorientation, sleepiness and memory loss. She had no history of hepatic or intestinal amoebiasis. A preliminary diagnosis of colloidal vesicular phase neurocysticercosis was made based on nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI). A postsurgery immunofluorescence study was positive for the 140 kDa fibronectin receptor of E. histolytica, although a serum analysis by ELISA was negative for IgG antibodies against this parasite. A specific E. histolytica 128 bp rRNA gene was identified by PCR in biopsy tissue. The final diagnosis was cerebral amoebiasis. The patient underwent neurosurgery to eliminate amoebic abscesses and was then given a regimen of metronidazole, ceftriaxone and dexamethasone for 4 weeks after the neurosurgery. However, a rapid decline in her condition led to death. CONCLUSIONS The present case of an individual with a rare form of cerebral amoebiasis highlights the importance of performing immunofluorescence, NMRI and PCR if a patient has brain abscess and a poorly defined diagnosis. Moreover, the administration of corticosteroids to such patients can often lead to a rapid decline in their condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquin Alvaro Victoria-Hernández
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General de Zona 3 IMSS Jesús María, Prolongación General Ignacio Zaragoza 905, Jesús María, CP 20908 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Anayansi Ventura-Saucedo
- Departamento de Anestesiología, Hospital General de Zona 3 IMSS Jesús María, Prolongación General Ignacio Zaragoza 905, Jesús María, CP 20908 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Aurelio López-Morones
- Departamento de Neurocirugía, Hospital General de Zona 3 IMSS Jesús María, Prolongación General Ignacio Zaragoza 905, Jesús María, CP 20908 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Sandra Luz Martínez-Hernández
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Ed. 202 Av Universidad # 940, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Marina Nayeli Medina-Rosales
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Ed. 202 Av Universidad # 940, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Martín Muñoz-Ortega
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Manuel Enrique Ávila-Blanco
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Ed. 202 Av Universidad # 940, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Daniel Cervantes-García
- Departamento de Microbiología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONACYT, 03940 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Fernando Barba-Gallardo
- Departamento de Optometría, Centro de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
| | - Javier Ventura-Juárez
- Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Ed. 202 Av Universidad # 940, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 20131 Aguascalientes, AGS Mexico
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Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Einhorn A, Apanaskevich DA, Mumcuoglu KY, Gottlieb Y. Potential tick vectors for Theileria equi in Israel. Med Vet Entomol 2020; 34:291-294. [PMID: 32107816 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Theileria equi Mehlhorn and Schein, 1998 (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) is an important tick-borne pathogen of horses that is highly endemic in many parts of the world, including Israel. The present study evaluated the potential roles of five hard tick species [Hyalomma excavatum Koch, 1844; Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844; Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantsev 1936; Rhipicephalus annulatus Say, 1821; Haemaphysalis parva (Neumann, 1897) (all: Ixodida: Ixodidae)], previously found to infest horses in Israel, in acting as vectors for piroplasmosis. For this, DNA was extracted from whole ticks and, when possible, from the salivary glands in each species (n = 10-59). Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene were used to detect T. equi in 48 of the 127 ticks (37.8%) and in 21 of the 90 extracted salivary glands (23.3%) in all five species. All but two sequences were classified as T. equi genotype A; the remaining two were classified as genotype D. The findings of this study point to Ha. parva and R. annulatus as potential novel vectors of T. equi, and suggest that parasite genotype selection occurs within the tick vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tirosh-Levy
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - A Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - A Einhorn
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - D A Apanaskevich
- U.S. National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, U.S.A
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - K Y Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Y Gottlieb
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Bisetegn H, Zeleke AJ, Gadisa E, Shumie G, Damte D, Fenta T, Behaksra S, Bayih AG. Clinical, parasitological and molecular profiles of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and its associated factors among clinically suspected patients attending Borumeda Hospital, North-East Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008507. [PMID: 32841279 PMCID: PMC7473553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases increasing in its public health importance. In Ethiopia over 28 million people are living at risk of infection. METHOD Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at Borumeda Hospital from February to May 2019. A total 205 leishmaniasis suspected patients were included by systematic random sampling technique. Socio demographic characteristics were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. Parasitological investigation was done from skin slit sample by using Geimsa staining method. Species identification was done by PCR-RFLP. Data were entered in to EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULT A total of 205 participants consisting 59% male and 41% female included in this study. The mean age (±SD) of the study participants was 31.9 (±14.29). The overall prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was 22.4% (46/205). The prevalence in males (13.7%) was higher than in females (8.8%). It was more prevalent in the age group 16-45years old (15.6%). Clinically, 60% of patients' hade single lesion with 1.55 average number of lesions. About 30.7% of patients' had indurated plaque type of lesion. Most of the lesions were found on head and face (59%). House near to farmland, presence of hyrax in the village and presence of other cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in the neighborhood were independent predicator of cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence. L.aethopica was found to be the etiologic agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the study participants. CONCLUSION The prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was 22.4%, this alerts the need of intervention. It is statistically associated with house near to farm land, presence of other cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in the neighborhood and presence of hyrax in village. Head and face were the most common sites of lesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habtye Bisetegn
- Department of Medical Laboratory science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University,Dessie, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
| | - Ayalew Jejaw Zeleke
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | | | - Girma Shumie
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Demekech Damte
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tiruework Fenta
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Abebe Genetu Bayih
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Thompson TA, Touré MB, Sanogo D, Shaffer JG, Doumbia SO, Krogstad DJ. Template copy number and the sensitivity of quantitative PCR for Plasmodium falciparum in asymptomatic individuals. Malar J 2020; 19:295. [PMID: 32811534 PMCID: PMC7436962 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03365-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The identification of asymptomatic individuals with Plasmodium falciparum infection is difficult because they do not seek medical treatment and often have too few asexual parasites detectable using microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (≤ 200 parasites per μl). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) may provide greater sensitivity and permits estimation of the initial template DNA concentration. This study examined the hypothesis that qPCR assays using templates with higher copy numbers may be more sensitive for P. falciparum than assays based on templates with lower copy numbers. METHODS To test this hypothesis, ten qPCR assays for DNA sequences with template copy numbers from 1 to 160 were compared using parasite DNA standards (n = 2) and smear-positive filter paper blots from asymptomatic smear-positive subjects (n = 96). RESULTS Based on the testing of P. falciparum parasite DNA standards and filter paper blots, cycle threshold values decreased as the concentrations of template DNA and template copy numbers increased (p < 0.001). Likewise, the analytical and clinical sensitivities of qPCR assays for P. falciparum DNA (based on DNA standards and filter paper blots, respectively) increased with template copy number. Despite the gains in clinical sensitivity from increased template copy numbers, qPCR assays failed to detect more than half of the filter paper blots with low parasite densities (≤ 200 asexual parasites per μl). CONCLUSIONS These results confirm the hypothesis that the sensitivity of qPCR for P. falciparum in the blood of individuals with asymptomatic infection increases with template copy number. However, because even the most sensitive qPCR assays (with template copy numbers from 32 to 160) detected fewer than 50% of infections with ≤ 200 asexual parasites per μl, the sensitivity of qPCR must be increased further to identify all smear-positive, asymptomatic individuals in order to interrupt transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor A Thompson
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali.
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, #8317, J.B. Johnston Building, Room 510, New Orleans, LA, 70112-2699, USA.
| | - Mahamoudou B Touré
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali
- University of the Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Daouda Sanogo
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali
- University of the Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Jeffrey G Shaffer
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali.
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, #8317, J.B. Johnston Building, Room 510, New Orleans, LA, 70112-2699, USA.
| | - Seydou O Doumbia
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali
- University of the Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Donald J Krogstad
- West African International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research, Bamako, Mali.
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, #8317, J.B. Johnston Building, Room 510, New Orleans, LA, 70112-2699, USA.
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Melo RPB, Oliveira PRF, Albuquerque PPF, Barretto MLM, Moura GHF, Oliveira AAF, Mota RA. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in heart tissue from common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) monitored for yellow fever and rabies in Pernambuco state, Northeastern of Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 21:100447. [PMID: 32862888 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is limited available information concerning the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in noncaptive monkeys. Also, New World monkeys (NWM) are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis, which is a conservation concern. This study aimed to investigate apicomplexan parasites in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) collected for yellow fever and rabies surveillance program in Northeastern region of Brazil. Heart fragments of 39 free-ranging common marmosets were analyzed for the presence of the 18S rDNA gene of apicomplexan parasites by nested PCR. Positive samples were sequenced. T. gondii DNA was detected in 17.9% (7/39) of the analyzed animals. This study is the first report on T. gondii in Callithrix jacchus in Brazil. These findings should be an alert for wildlife conservation institutions, as high susceptibility and mortality were reported for captive NWM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata P B Melo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil.
| | - Pollyanne R F Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Pedro P F Albuquerque
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Mariana L M Barretto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriela H F Moura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Andrea A F Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo A Mota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil
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Besuschio SA, Picado A, Muñoz-Calderón A, Wehrendt DP, Fernández M, Benatar A, Diaz-Bello Z, Irurtia C, Cruz I, Ndung’u JM, Cafferata ML, Montenegro G, Sosa Estani S, Lucero RH, Alarcón de Noya B, Longhi SA, Schijman AG. Trypanosoma cruzi loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Trypanosoma cruzi Loopamp) kit for detection of congenital, acute and Chagas disease reactivation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008402. [PMID: 32797041 PMCID: PMC7458301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A Trypanosoma cruzi Loopamp kit was recently developed as a ready-to-use diagnostic method requiring minimal laboratory facilities. We evaluated its diagnostic accuracy for detection of acute Chagas disease (CD) in different epidemiological and clinical scenarios. In this retrospective study, a convenience series of clinical samples (venous blood treated with EDTA or different stabilizer agents, heel-prick blood in filter paper or cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF)) from 30 infants born to seropositive mothers (13 with congenital CD and 17 noninfected), four recipients of organs from CD donors, six orally-infected cases after consumption of contaminated guava juice and six CD patients coinfected with HIV at risk of CD reactivation (N = 46 patients, 46 blood samples and 1 CSF sample) were tested by T. cruzi Loopamp kit (Tc LAMP) and standardized quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). T. cruzi Loopamp accuracy was estimated using the case definition in the different groups as a reference. Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) was applied to measure the agreement between Tc LAMP (index test) and qPCR (reference test). Sensitivity and specificity of T. cruzi Loopamp kit in blood samples from the pooled clinical groups was 93% (95% CI: 77-99) and 100% (95% CI: 80-100) respectively. The agreement between Tc LAMP and qPCR was almost perfect (κ = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.62-1.00). The T. cruzi Loopamp kit was sensitive and specific for detection of T. cruzi infection. It was carried out from DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples (via frozen EDTA blood, guanidine hydrochloride-EDTA blood, DNAgard blood and dried blood spots), as well as in CSF specimens infected with TcI or TcII/V/VI parasite populations. The T. cruzi Loopamp kit appears potentially useful for rapid detection of T. cruzi infection in congenital, acute and CD reactivation due to HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana A. Besuschio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Albert Picado
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana P Wehrendt
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marisa Fernández
- Hospital de Enfermedades Infecciosas “Dr. Francisco J. Muñiz” Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología, “Dr Mario Fatala Chabén”, ANLIS CG Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Benatar
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Zoraida Diaz-Bello
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela 5
| | - Cecilia Irurtia
- Hospital Nacional “Profesor Alejandro Posadas”, Villa Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Israel Cruz
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
- National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joseph M Ndung’u
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - María L Cafferata
- Departamento en Salud de la Madre y el Niño, Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria – Centro de Investigación en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (IECS-CIESP), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Graciela Montenegro
- Hospital Nacional “Profesor Alejandro Posadas”, Villa Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio Sosa Estani
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología, “Dr Mario Fatala Chabén”, ANLIS CG Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Raúl H. Lucero
- Área de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina
| | | | - Silvia A Longhi
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr Héctor Torres”, (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Rêgo FD, Souza GD, Miranda JB, Peixoto LV, Andrade-Filho JD. Potential Vectors of Leishmania Parasites in a Recent Focus of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Neighborhoods of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:1286-1292. [PMID: 32112089 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In view of recent cases of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis reported in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, we investigated the sand fly fauna inhabiting the neighborhoods of Morro Santana and Jardim Carvalho, Brazil, continuing a series of entomological surveys aimed to identify potential vectors of Leishmania (Ross, 1903) parasites. Sand flies were collected monthly from October 2016 to October 2017 using CDC light traps in the intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary environments of seven residences. Sand fly abundance was correlated to climatic variables. Females were pooled by species, location, and date for Leishmania DNA molecular screening using ITS1 and kDNA polymerase chain reaction. In total, 501 sand flies from five species were collected in which Lutzomyia gaminarai (Cordero, Vogelsang & Cossio, 1928) (Diptera: Psychodidae) (78%) was the most abundant species in the intradomiciliary sites while Migonemyia migonei (Franca, 1920) (Diptera: Psychodidae) (43.3%) was the most abundant in the peridomiciliary sites. A higher number of sand flies were collected during the warmest months, from December to March (Mann-Whitney statistical test - P < 0.001). Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in Lu. gaminarai (2), Pintomyia fischeri (Pinto, 1926) (1) and Mg. migonei (1). Leishmania braziliensis DNA was detected in Lu. gaminarai (1) and Pi. fischeri (1). Our results add support to the possible vector role of Pi. fischeri in the epidemiological cycle of Le. infantum in Brazil. Furthermore, the first documented detection of Leishmania DNA in Lu. gaminarai may be indicative of multiple vectors being involved in the Leishmania cycle within Porto Alegre.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Dutra Rêgo
- Grupo de Estudo em Leishmanioses, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Getúlio Dornelles Souza
- Núcleo de Vigilância de Roedores e Vetores, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Núcleo de Flebotomíneos, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Rio Grande do Sul, Secretaria de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Júlia Bahia Miranda
- Grupo de Estudo em Leishmanioses, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lais Vieira Peixoto
- Núcleo de Vigilância de Roedores e Vetores, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - José Dilermando Andrade-Filho
- Grupo de Estudo em Leishmanioses, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Lozano-Sardaneta YN, Sánchez-Montes S, Sánchez-Cordero V, Becker I, Paternina LE. Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from Veracruz, Mexico. Acta Trop 2020; 207:105492. [PMID: 32298655 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites causing different clinical forms of leishmaniases that represent a serious emerging public health problem worldwide. Mexico harbours a large diversity of sand flies, yet only six species have been considered suspected vectors of Leishmania. The disease has been recorded in 25 states, where the State of Veracruz has recorded the highest number of cases with leishmaniases, although no systematic or epidemiological surveillance studies of Leishmania vectors have been carried out in the region. For that reason, the aim of this study was to perform the molecular detection of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomine sand flies collected from a humid tropical region in Veracruz. We confirmed the presence of Leishmania DNA in eight sand fly species. Sand flies with the highest infection were Psathyromyia aclydifera and Pychodopygus panamensis. This is also the first report of Leishmania DNA in Psathyromyia aclydifera, Psathyromyia carpenteri, Dampfomyia beltrani and Brumptomyia mesai. Our findings highlight the importance of entomological surveys and epidemiological studies, since they enable to determine whether sand fly species may be potential Leishmania vectors in a given area of the Mexico, as transmission dynamics can vary in the different regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yokomi N Lozano-Sardaneta
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 06720, México
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 06720, México
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Cordero
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 06720, México.
| | - Luís E Paternina
- Grupo Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Sucre, Carrera 14 No. 16B-32 (CP 700003), Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia.
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Wang J, Zhao Y, Lu X, Lyu Z, Warren A, Shao C. Does the Gonostomum-patterned oral apparatus in hypotrichia carry a phylogenetic signal? Evidence from morphological and molecular data based on extended taxon sampling using three nuclear genes (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea). Sci China Life Sci 2020; 64:311-322. [PMID: 32572808 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1667-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The classification of hypotrichs based on the gonostomatid oral structure is widely accepted, but the phylogenetic signal of this character is unknown. Here, we infer the species phylogeny of those gonostomatids for which molecular data are available, plus 26 new sequences of SSU-rDNA, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and LSU-rDNA genes. The results indicate that: (i) the endoral is more phylogenetically informative than the paroral; (ii) the structure of the endoral and the Gonostomum-pattern adoral zone of membranelles are plesiomorphies for the hypotrichs sensu stricto; (iii) the group of species possessing these features is monophyletic in all our phylogenetic analyses, except that for the SSU-rDNA; (iv) Schmidingerotrichidae is monophyletic in all trees, suggesting that it is a well-defined family; (v) the Gonostomatidae is polyphyletic in the SSU-rDNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 trees, with Gonostomum, Cladotricha, Cotterillia, Metagonostomum, Paragonostomum and Wallackia distributed among separate clades, but monophyletic in the LSU-rDNA and concatenated trees; (vi) higher hypotrich taxa such as core urostyloids and core sporadotrichids/stichotrichids might have evolved from species that possessed a gonostomatid oral apparatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Wang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Xiaoteng Lu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Zhao Lyu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Chen Shao
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China.
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Bauhofer AFL, Cossa-Moiane I, Marques S, Guimarães EL, Munlela B, Anapakala E, Chilaúle JJ, Cassocera M, Langa JS, Chissaque A, Sambo J, Manhique-Coutinho L, Bero DM, Kellogg TA, de Deus N. Intestinal protozoan infections among children 0-168 months with diarrhea in Mozambique: June 2014 - January 2018. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008195. [PMID: 32320399 PMCID: PMC7176080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intestinal parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica can cause severe diarrhea, especially among children in developing countries. This study aims to determine the frequency of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica in children with diarrhea and identify risk factors for infection. METHODOLOGY We conducted a cross-sectional study in children aged 0-168 months hospitalized with diarrhea in three regions of Mozambique, from June 2014 to January 2018. Following consent, caretakers were interviewed and a single stool specimen was collected from each child to diagnose Cryptosporidium spp., G. lamblia and E. histolytica using commercial immune-enzymatic assay (TechLab, Inc, Blacksburg, VA, USA). Anthropometric data were collected from the clinical reports. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify risk factors for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. lamblia infection. RESULTS Twenty-one percent of all specimens (212/1008) presented at least one parasitic infection. Cryptosporidium spp. infection was the most common 12.0% (118/985), followed by G. lamblia 9.7% (95/983) and E. histolytica 2.0% (20/1004). Risk factors for infection by Cryptosporidium spp. were: provenience (children from Nampula province showed the highest risk, OR: 8.176; CI: 1.916-34.894; p-value < 0.01); animal contact (children with animal contact had a protective effect OR: 0.627; CI: 0.398-0.986; p-value < 0.05); underweight (children severely underweight showed a risk of 2.309; CI: 1.310-4.069; p-value < 0.05). Risk factors for infection by G. lamblia were: age (group with highest risk, 60-168 months (OR: 2.322; CI: 1.000-5.393, p-value > 0.05)); and living in a household with five or more members (OR: 2.141; CI: 1.286-3.565, p-value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Parasitic infection is common among children with diarrhea. Routine testing, standard treatment, and assessment for risk exposure of children with diarrhea should be implemented at health facilities in Mozambique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adilson Fernando Loforte Bauhofer
- Direcção de Formação e Comunicação em Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Idalécia Cossa-Moiane
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Selma Marques
- Direcção de Formação e Comunicação em Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Esperança L. Guimarães
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Direcção de Pesquisa em Saúde e Bem-Estar, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Benilde Munlela
- Direcção de Formação e Comunicação em Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Elda Anapakala
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Jorfélia J. Chilaúle
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Marta Cassocera
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Direcção de Pesquisa em Saúde e Bem-Estar, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Jerónimo S. Langa
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Assucênio Chissaque
- Direcção de Formação e Comunicação em Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Júlia Sambo
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Direcção de Pesquisa em Saúde e Bem-Estar, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Lena Manhique-Coutinho
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Diocreciano Matias Bero
- Direcção de Laboratórios de Saúde Pública, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
| | - Timothy A. Kellogg
- Direcção de Inquéritos e Observação de Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Nilsa de Deus
- Direcção de Pesquisa em Saúde e Bem-Estar, Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Moçambique
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Widmer G, Köster PC, Carmena D. Cryptosporidium hominis infections in non-human animal species: revisiting the concept of host specificity. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:253-262. [PMID: 32205089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasites in the genus Cryptosporidium, phylum Apicomplexa, are found worldwide in the intestinal tract of many vertebrate species and in the environment. Driven by sensitive PCR methods, and the availability of abundant sequence data and reference genomes, the taxonomic complexity of the genus has steadily increased; 38 species have been named to date. Due to its public health importance, Cryptosporidium hominis has long attracted the interest of the research community. This species was initially described as infectious to humans only. This perception has persisted in spite of an increasing number of observations of natural and experimental infections of animals with this species. Here we summarize and discuss this literature published since 2000 and conclude that the host range of C. hominis is broader than originally described. The evolving definition of the C. hominis host range raises interesting questions about host specificity and the evolution of Cryptosporidium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Widmer
- Department of Infectious Disease & Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536, United States
| | - Pamela C Köster
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Carmena
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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Da Silva YY, Sales KGDS, Miranda DEDO, Figueredo LA, Brandão-Filho SP, Dantas-Torres F. Detection of Leishmania DNA in Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) From a Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Outbreak Area in Northeastern Brazil. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:529-533. [PMID: 31693145 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) by Leishmania braziliensis Vianna (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) is a widespread disease in the western hemisphere and Brazil is the country reporting the majority of the human cases each year. Several phlebotomine sand flies have been regarded as putative or proven vectors of L. braziliensis and multiple vectors may be involved in the transmission of this parasite in the same endemic foci. In this study, we tested a subset of female phlebotomine sand flies collected in the frame of a previous study conducted in a military training camp, where outbreaks of CL by L. braziliensis have sporadically been reported. In total, 1,807 female phlebotomine sand flies were tested (individually or in pools) by real-time PCR and a minimum infection rate of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6-1.5%) was detected. Positive females belonged to the species Psychodopygus complexus (Mangabeira) or Psychodopygus wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson (females of these species are morphologically indistinguishable), Trichopygomyia longispina (Mangabeira), and Sciopemyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte) (Diptera: Psychodidae). By restriction enzyme analysis, 13 samples (nine of Ty. longispina, two of Ps. complexus/wellcomei, and two of Sc. sordellii) presented a HaeIII restriction profile identical to L. braziliensis. The results of this study reinforce the notion that multiple vectors may be involved in the transmission of L. braziliensis in a single focus, ultimately making the epidemiological picture more complex than currently recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury Yzabella Da Silva
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luciana Aguiar Figueredo
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Sinval P Brandão-Filho
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Cong W, Zhang NZ, Hu RS, Zou FC, Zou Y, Zhong WY, Wu JJ, Fallaize CJ, Zhu XQ, Elsheikha HM. Prevalence, risk factors and genotype distribution of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in soil in China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020; 189:109999. [PMID: 31812824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we performed a cross-sectional survey to determine the occurrence and genotype distribution of T. gondii DNA in soil samples collected from different sources from six geographic regions in China. Between March 2015 and June 2017, 2100 soil samples were collected from schools, parks, farms and coastal beaches, and examined for T. gondii DNA using three PCR assays targeting 529-bp repeat element (RE) sequence, B1 gene and ITS-1 gene sequences. Also, we investigated whether geographic region, soil source and type, and sampling season can influence the prevalence of T. gondii DNA in the soil. Soil samples collected from farms and parks had the highest prevalence, whereas samples collected from school playgrounds and coastal beaches had the lowest prevalence. PCR assays targeting 529-bp RE and ITS-1 gene sequences were more sensitive than the B1 gene-based assay. Positive PCR products were genotyped using multi-locus PCR-RFLP, and ToxoDB #9 was the predominant genotype found in the contaminated soil samples. Multiple logistic regression identified factors correlated significantly with the presence of T. gondii DNA in the soil to be the source of the soil, including farms (odds ratio 3.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52 to 6.29; p = 0.002) and parks (2.59; 95% CI 1.28 to 5.27; p = 0.009). These results show that Chinese soil hosts T. gondii of the most prevalent genotype in China (ToxoDB#9) and that the soil type influences infection patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cong
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, PR China.
| | - Nian-Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, PR China
| | - Rui-Si Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, PR China
| | - Feng-Cai Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650201, PR China
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, PR China
| | - Wen-Yan Zhong
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jing-Jing Wu
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christopher J Fallaize
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, PR China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
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Lednický T, Bonyár A. Large Scale Fabrication of Ordered Gold Nanoparticle-Epoxy Surface Nanocomposites and Their Application as Label-Free Plasmonic DNA Biosensors. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2020; 12:4804-4814. [PMID: 31904921 PMCID: PMC7307838 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b20907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
A robust and scalable technology to fabricate ordered gold nanoparticle arrangements on epoxy substrates is presented. The nanoparticles are synthesized by solid-state dewetting on nanobowled aluminum templates, which are prepared by the selective chemical etching of porous anodic alumina (PAA) grown on an aluminum sheet with controlled anodic oxidation. This flexible fabrication technology provides proper control over the nanoparticle size, shape, and interparticle distance over a large surface area (several cm2), which enables the fine-tuning and optimization of their plasmonic absorption spectra for LSPR and SERS applications between 535 and 625 nm. The nanoparticles are transferred to the surface of epoxy substrates, which are subsequently selectively etched. The resulting nanomushrooms arrangements consist of ordered epoxy nanopillars with flat, disk-shaped nanoparticles on top, and their bulk refractive index sensitivity is between 83 and 108 nm RIU-1. Label-free DNA detection is successfully demonstrated with the sensors by using a 20 base pair long specific DNA sequence from the parasite Giardia lamblia. A red-shift of 6.6 nm in the LSPR absorbance spectrum was detected after the 2 h hybridization with 1 μM target DNA, and the achievable LOD was around 5 nM. The reported plasmonic sensor is one of the first surface AuNP/polymer nanocomposites ever reported for the successful label-free detection of DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Lednický
- CEITEC - Central
European Institute of Technology, Brno University
of Technology, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic
| | - Attila Bonyár
- Department of Electronics Technology, Budapest
University of Technology and Economics, Budapest H-1111, Hungary
- E-mail: (A.B.)
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Abstract
This protocol describes the use of heavy water (2H2O) labeling to determine the growth rate and metabolic state of Leishmania parasites in culture and in infected animals. In vitro labeling studies are undertaken by cultivating defined parasite developmental stages in standard medium supplemented with 5% 2H2O, resulting in the incorporation of deuterium (2H) into a range of metabolic precursors used in macromolecule (DNA, RNA, protein, lipid, and glycan) synthesis. The rate of turnover of different parasite macromolecules can subsequently be determined by analysis of deuterium enrichment in the different constituents of these macromolecules by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To measure the growth rate and physiological state of parasite stages in lesion tissue, infected mice were provided with 9% 2H2O in their drinking water for various periods of time and 2H-enrichment in the macromolecular constituents of isolated lesion-derived parasite stages determined by GC-MS. This protocol provides quantitative information on key cellular processes, such as replication (DNA turnover), transcription (RNA turnover), translation (protein turnover), membrane biogenesis (lipid turnover), and central carbon metabolism (glycan turnover) that define the growth state and phenome of different parasite stages in vitro and in vivo. This approach can be used to assess the impact of host immune responses on parasite growth and physiology (using different Leishmania strains/species, mouse lines), characterize different parasite populations during chronic and acute infections, and assess parasite responses to drug treatments. It is also broadly applicable to other microbial pathogens.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- DNA, Protozoan/analysis
- DNA, Protozoan/chemistry
- DNA, Protozoan/metabolism
- Deuterium Oxide/chemistry
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods
- Humans
- Isotope Labeling/methods
- Leishmania mexicana/isolation & purification
- Leishmania mexicana/metabolism
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/immunology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/parasitology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/pathology
- Life Cycle Stages/physiology
- Metabolomics/methods
- Mice
- Polysaccharides/analysis
- Polysaccharides/chemistry
- Polysaccharides/metabolism
- Protozoan Proteins/analysis
- Protozoan Proteins/chemistry
- Protozoan Proteins/metabolism
- RNA, Protozoan/analysis
- RNA, Protozoan/chemistry
- RNA, Protozoan/metabolism
- Skin/parasitology
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Cats as a definitive host have an important role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii infection and isolate and identify the genotypes of T. gondii in stray cats in the Mashhad suburb. METHODS From April 2016 to August 2017, 175 fecal samples from stray cats and 31 brain samples from cats killed in driving accidents were collected. The fecal samples were examined by fecal flotation technique and T. gondii-specific PCR. The brain samples were investigated by T. gondii-specific PCR and consequently examined by mice bioassay. The DNA of T. gondii isolated was genotyped using SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB and GRA6 as PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) markers. RESULTS In the present study, Toxoplasma-like oocysts were microscopically observed in 2.2% (4/175) fecal samples. The presence of Toxoplasma oocysts was confirmed in one microscopy-positive sample by PCR. In addition, T. gondii DNA was detected in 4% (7/175) microscopy-negative samples using PCR. T. gondii was isolated from one brain PCR-positive sample by mice bioassay. The isolate was avirulent and many T. gondii cysts were observed in mice brain. The isolate was successfully genotyped by PCR-RLFP analysis. The isolated genotyped was type II. Besides, eight Toxoplasma-positive fecal samples contained insufficient DNA and only amplified at SAG-3 locus in PCR. These samples were also showed type II pattern at this locus. CONCLUSIONS Parasitological and molecular results showed low frequency of Toxoplasma infection in the stray cats, and identified the genotype of T. gondii isolate as type II, for the first time in Mashhad area, Khorasan Razavi Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Khodaverdi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box: 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Razmi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box: 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran
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Woolsey ID, Blomstrand B, Øines Ø, Enemark HL. Assessment of differences between DNA content of cell-cultured and freely suspended oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and their suitability as DNA standards in qPCR. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:596. [PMID: 31856894 PMCID: PMC6923971 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3851-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although more modern methods are available, quantitative PCR (qPCR) is reproducible, sensitive and specific with instruments and expertise readily available in many laboratories. As such, the use of qPCR in Cryptosporidium research is well established and still widely used by researchers globally. This method depends upon the generation of standards at different concentrations to generate standard curves subsequently used for the quantification of DNA. METHODS We assessed four types of DNA template used to generate standard curves in drug screening studies involving Cryptosporidium spp.: (i) serially diluted Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts (106-1); (ii) diluted template DNA from pure oocysts (×10-×106 dilution of 106 oocyst DNA template); (iii) oocysts incubated in human ileocecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8) cells (105-1 and 5 × 104-50); and (iv) diluted DNA template (5 × 104) from cell culture incubated parasites (×10-×1000). RESULTS Serial dilutions of both cell culture and pure oocyst suspension DNA template yielded better linearity than cell culture derived standards, with dilutions of 106 oocysts exhibiting similar quantification cycle (Cq) values to those obtained from DNA template dilutions of 106 oocysts. In contrast, cell culture incubated oocysts demonstrated significantly higher DNA content than equivalent freely suspended oocysts and diluted DNA template from both cell culture derived and freely suspended oocysts across numerous concentrations. CONCLUSIONS For many studies involving Cryptosporidium, only relative DNA content is required and as such, the superior linearity afforded by freely suspended oocysts and diluted DNA template (from either cell culture derived standards or freely suspended oocysts) will allow for more accurate relative quantification in each assay. Parasite division in the cell culture standards likely explains the higher DNA content found. These standards, therefore, have the potential to more accurately reflect DNA content in cell culture assays, and despite more modern methods available for absolute quantification, i.e. droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), the ubiquity of qPCR for the foreseeable future encourages further investigation into the reduced linearity observed in these standards such as varying oocyst seeding density, non-linear growth rates and assay efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian D. Woolsey
- Department of Animal Health and Food Safety, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, 0454 Oslo, Norway
| | - Berit Blomstrand
- Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture, Gunnars veg 6, 6630 Tingvoll, Norway
| | - Øivind Øines
- Department of Animal Health and Food Safety, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, 0454 Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi L. Enemark
- Department of Animal Health and Food Safety, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, 0454 Oslo, Norway
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Tang Z, Choi G, Nouri R, Guan W. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification-Coupled Glass Nanopore Counting Toward Sensitive and Specific Nucleic Acid Testing. Nano Lett 2019; 19:7927-7934. [PMID: 31657939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Solid-state nanopores have shown great promise and achieved tremendous success in label-free single-molecule analysis. However, there are three common challenges in solid-state nanopore sensors, including the nanopore size variations from batch to batch that makes the interpretation of the sensing results difficult, the incorporation of sensor specificity, and the impractical analysis time at low analyte concentration due to diffusion-limited mass transport. Here, we demonstrate a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-coupled glass nanopore counting strategy that could effectively address these challenges. By using the glass nanopore in the counting mode (versus the sizing mode), the device fabrication challenge is considerably eased since it allows a certain degree of pore size variations and no surface functionalization is needed. The specific molecule replication effectively breaks the diffusion-limited mass transport thanks to the exponential growth of the target molecules. We show the LAMP-coupled glass nanopore counting has the potential to be used in a qualitative test as well as in a quantitative nucleic acid test. This approach lends itself to most amplification strategies as long as the target template is specifically replicated in numbers. The highly sensitive and specific sensing strategy would open a new avenue for solid-state nanopore sensors toward a new form of compact, rapid, low-cost nucleic acid testing at the point of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifan Tang
- Department of Electrical Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Gihoon Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Reza Nouri
- Department of Electrical Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Weihua Guan
- Department of Electrical Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
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Toldrà A, Alcaraz C, Diogène J, O'Sullivan CK, Campàs M. Detection of Ostreopsis cf. ovata in environmental samples using an electrochemical DNA-based biosensor. Sci Total Environ 2019; 689:655-661. [PMID: 31279212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ostreopsis cf. ovata is a benthic microalga distributed in tropical and temperate regions worldwide which produces palytoxins (PlTXs). Herein, an electrochemical biosensor for the detection of this toxic microalga is described. The detection strategy involves isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) of the target using tailed primers and a sandwich hybridisation assay on maleimide-coated magnetic beads immobilised on electrode arrays. The biosensor attained a limit of detection of 9 pg/μL of O. cf. ovata DNA (which corresponds to ~640 cells/L), with no interferences from two non-target Ostreopsis species (O. cf. siamensis and O. fattorussoi). The biosensor was applied to the analysis of planktonic and benthic environmental samples. Electrochemical O. cf. ovata DNA quantifications demonstrated an excellent correlation with other molecular methods (qPCR and colorimetric assays) and allowed the construction of a predictive regression model to estimate O. cf. ovata cell abundances. This new technology offer great potential to improve research, monitoring and management of O. cf. ovata and harmful algal blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Toldrà
- IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Carles Alcaraz
- IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Jorge Diogène
- IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Ciara K O'Sullivan
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mònica Campàs
- IRTA, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain.
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Temesgen TT, Robertson LJ, Tysnes KR. A novel multiplex real-time PCR for the detection of Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Cyclospora cayetanensis on berries. Food Res Int 2019; 125:108636. [PMID: 31554047 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Foodborne parasites (FBP) are of major public health importance and warrant appropriate detection and control strategies. Most of the FBP considered for risk-ranking by a panel of experts are potentially transmitted via consumption of contaminated fresh produce, including berries. In this study we focused on the potential of three FBP, namely Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplamsa gondii, and Cyclospora cayetanensis, as contaminants of berries. Surveys to assess these parasites as contaminants of fresh produce in general, and berries in particular, are scanty or non-existent mainly due to the lack of optimized laboratory methods for detection. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a novel multiplex qPCR for the simultaneous detection of E. multilocularis, T. gondii, and C. cayetanensis from berry fruits. The efficiency and linearity of each channel in the multiplex qPCR were within the acceptable limits for the range of concentrations tested. Furthermore, the method was shown to have good repeatability (standard deviation ≤0.2 Cq) and intermediate precision (pooled standard deviation of 0.3-0.6 Cq). The limit of detection was estimated to 10 oocysts for Toxoplasma and Cyclospora, and 5 eggs for Echinococcus per 30 g of raspberries or blueberries. In conclusion, evaluation of the present method showed that the newly developed multiplex qPCR is highly specific, precise, and robust method that has potential for application in food-testing laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamirat Tefera Temesgen
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Adamstuen Campus, P.O. Box 369, 0102 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Lucy Jane Robertson
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Adamstuen Campus, P.O. Box 369, 0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristoffer Relling Tysnes
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Adamstuen Campus, P.O. Box 369, 0102 Oslo, Norway
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Staniek ME, Sedda L, Gibson TD, de Souza CF, Costa EM, Dillon RJ, Hamilton JGC. eNose analysis of volatile chemicals from dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007599. [PMID: 31386662 PMCID: PMC6697360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is a neglected, vector-borne, tropical parasitic disease that is responsible for several thousand human deaths every year. The transmission route involves sand flies becoming infected after feeding on infected reservoir host, mainly dogs, and then transmitting the Leishmania infantum parasites while feeding on humans. A major component of the VL control effort is the identification and euthanasia of infected dogs to remove them as a source of infection. A rapid, non-invasive, point-of-care device able to differentiate between the odours of infected and uninfected dogs may contribute towards the accurate diagnosis of canine VL. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We analysed the headspace volatile chemicals from the hair of two groups of dogs collected in 2017 and 2018 using a bench-top eNose volatile organic chemical analyser. The dogs were categorised as infected or uninfected by PCR analysis of blood samples taken by venepuncture and the number of parasites per ml of blood was calculated for each dog by qPCR analysis. We demonstrated using a robust clustering analysis that the eNose data could be discriminated into infected and uninfected categories with specificity >94% and sensitivity >97%. The eNose device and data analysis were sufficiently sensitive to be able to identify infected dogs even when the Leishmania population in the circulating blood was very low. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The study illustrates the potential of the eNose to rapidly and accurately identify dogs infected with Le. infantum. Future improvements to eNose analyser sensor sensitivity, sampling methodology and portability suggest that this approach could significantly improve the diagnosis of VL infected dogs in Brazil with additional potential for effective diagnosis of VL in humans as well as for the diagnosis of other parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica E. Staniek
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - Luigi Sedda
- Centre for Health Informatics Computation and Statistics, Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - Tim D. Gibson
- RoboScientific Ltd., Espace North, Littleport, Cambridgeshire
| | | | - Erika M. Costa
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| | - James G. C. Hamilton
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancashire, United Kingdom
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