Aggregation is a fundamental feature of parasite distribution in the host population, but the biological implications of the aggregation indices used to describe the relationships between the populations of parasites and hosts are not evident. It is speculated that the form of distribution in each case is predicated on the host's varying resistance to the infection, which is hard to control, making it difficult to adequately interpret the index values. This paper examines several cases from trout farms in Russian Karelia to explore the monogenean Gyrodactylus spp. infection in rainbow trout of varying ages. The genetic homogeneity of cage-reared fish and the direct life cycle of the helminths make the relationship between the species more lucid than in natural host-parasite systems. The results give no ground to speak of any specific patterns: as well as in the natural systems, the infection rates in trout vary widely, i.e., the helminth distribution has not become more uniform; the observed distributions in all cases are adequately approximated by the negative binomial model; the positive abundance-occupancy relationships (AORs) and abundance-variance relationships (AVRs) common for parasitic systems apply to the basic infection parameters. The form of the negative binomial distribution is shaped by two parameters-k and θ, the former being a metric of the infection variability, which depends on the host's individual resistance, and the latter representing the parasites' reproduction and establishment success rates. A rise in the parameter k indicates increased aggregation and a higher parameter θ points to a more uniform frequency distribution. These parameters can be used as a representative tool for monitoring the parasite communities in salmonid fishes, including in aquaculture.
聚集是寄生虫在宿主群体中分布的一个基本特征,但用于描述寄生虫和宿主群体之间关系的聚集指数的生物学意义并不明显。据推测,每种情况下的分布形式都是以宿主对感染的不同抵抗力为前提的,而这种抵抗力是难以控制的,因此很难充分解释指数值。本文研究了俄罗斯卡累利阿鳟鱼养殖场的几个案例,以探讨不同年龄的虹鳟鱼感染单基因河豚的情况。网箱饲养鱼类的基因同质性和蠕虫的直接生命周期使得物种之间的关系比自然宿主-寄生虫系统中的关系更加清晰。研究结果没有给出任何具体的模式:与自然系统中一样,鳟鱼的感染率差异很大,即螺旋体的分布并没有变得更加均匀;在所有情况下观察到的分布都可以用负二项模型充分近似;寄生系统中常见的正丰度-占位关系(AORs)和丰度-方差关系(AVRs)适用于基本感染参数。负二项分布的形式由两个参数--k 和 θ 决定,前者是感染变异性的度量,取决于宿主的个体抵抗力,后者代表寄生虫的繁殖率和建立成功率。参数 k 升高表示聚集程度增加,参数 θ 升高表示频率分布更均匀。这些参数可用作监测鲑科鱼类寄生虫群落(包括水产养殖中的寄生虫群落)的代表性工具。
{"title":"Parasite abundance distribution as a model of host-parasite relationships between monogeneans Gyrodactylus spp. and cage-reared rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.","authors":"Evgeny Ieshko, Vyacheslav Gorbach, Aleksey Parshukov","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08351-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08351-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aggregation is a fundamental feature of parasite distribution in the host population, but the biological implications of the aggregation indices used to describe the relationships between the populations of parasites and hosts are not evident. It is speculated that the form of distribution in each case is predicated on the host's varying resistance to the infection, which is hard to control, making it difficult to adequately interpret the index values. This paper examines several cases from trout farms in Russian Karelia to explore the monogenean Gyrodactylus spp. infection in rainbow trout of varying ages. The genetic homogeneity of cage-reared fish and the direct life cycle of the helminths make the relationship between the species more lucid than in natural host-parasite systems. The results give no ground to speak of any specific patterns: as well as in the natural systems, the infection rates in trout vary widely, i.e., the helminth distribution has not become more uniform; the observed distributions in all cases are adequately approximated by the negative binomial model; the positive abundance-occupancy relationships (AORs) and abundance-variance relationships (AVRs) common for parasitic systems apply to the basic infection parameters. The form of the negative binomial distribution is shaped by two parameters-k and θ, the former being a metric of the infection variability, which depends on the host's individual resistance, and the latter representing the parasites' reproduction and establishment success rates. A rise in the parameter k indicates increased aggregation and a higher parameter θ points to a more uniform frequency distribution. These parameters can be used as a representative tool for monitoring the parasite communities in salmonid fishes, including in aquaculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08353-4
Ahu Nakhaei Madih, Mehrnaz Sadat Ravari, Maysam Yousefi, Mohsen Ehsan, Elham Akhlaghi, Hosein Kamyabi, Amir Shafiee, Majid Fasihi Harandi
The factors involving in the natural history and determinants of different features of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) are not adequately understood. Several host-related factors including the genetic structure of the host and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are believed to be involved in the natural history of CE in humans. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between HLA class II genes and active and inactive stages of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Echinococcus granulosus cyst samples and patient information were collected from the biobank of the Iranian Hydatid Disease Registry from 2019 to 2022. HLA-DRB and HLA-DQB were characterized by PCR method. CE patients were categorized into three active (CE1 and CE2), inactive (CE4 and CE5), and transitional (CE3) stages according to the WHO ultrasound classification of CE. In total, 77 participants including 38 patients (36.8% men and 63.2% women) with different stages of CE as well as 39 healthy individuals (38.5% men and 61.5% women) were included in the study. Findings of the study showed that the frequency of HLA-DRB1*03 was significantly lower in the patients compared to the healthy individuals. The frequencies of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB alleles were not differed significantly between active, inactive, and transitional stages of E. granulosus cysts. Findings of this study indicate the potential role of this allele in the susceptibility of human to cystic echinococcosis. Further large-scale studies in different endemic countries are required to document the significance of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB as a host-related factor in the natural history of CE in human.
{"title":"HLA class II profile in patients with different stages of cystic echinococcosis according to the WHO ultrasound imaging classification.","authors":"Ahu Nakhaei Madih, Mehrnaz Sadat Ravari, Maysam Yousefi, Mohsen Ehsan, Elham Akhlaghi, Hosein Kamyabi, Amir Shafiee, Majid Fasihi Harandi","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08353-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08353-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The factors involving in the natural history and determinants of different features of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) are not adequately understood. Several host-related factors including the genetic structure of the host and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are believed to be involved in the natural history of CE in humans. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between HLA class II genes and active and inactive stages of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Echinococcus granulosus cyst samples and patient information were collected from the biobank of the Iranian Hydatid Disease Registry from 2019 to 2022. HLA-DRB and HLA-DQB were characterized by PCR method. CE patients were categorized into three active (CE1 and CE2), inactive (CE4 and CE5), and transitional (CE3) stages according to the WHO ultrasound classification of CE. In total, 77 participants including 38 patients (36.8% men and 63.2% women) with different stages of CE as well as 39 healthy individuals (38.5% men and 61.5% women) were included in the study. Findings of the study showed that the frequency of HLA-DRB1*03 was significantly lower in the patients compared to the healthy individuals. The frequencies of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB alleles were not differed significantly between active, inactive, and transitional stages of E. granulosus cysts. Findings of this study indicate the potential role of this allele in the susceptibility of human to cystic echinococcosis. Further large-scale studies in different endemic countries are required to document the significance of HLA-DQB and HLA-DRB as a host-related factor in the natural history of CE in human.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08336-5
Roshmi Biswas, Daniel Barčák, Mikuláš Oros, Bhairab Kumar Patra, Jit Marick, Anirban Ash
The tapeworms belonging to the order Caryophyllidea (Platyhelminthes, Eucestoda) represent a widespread group of intestinal parasites found in cypriniform and siluriform fishes. This group comprises four families (Balanotaeniidae, Capingentidae, Caryophyllaeidae, Lytocestidae), 42 genera and approximately 130 described species. Additionally, over a hundred new taxa have been reported from India. While many of these taxa are endemic and have unique evolutionary importance, a considerable number of putative new taxa were also invalidated because the quality and reliability of the published data did not meet the requirements. Various researchers have synonymised 28 species into a single representative, Lytocestus indicus (Moghe, 1925) Woodland, 1926. Consequently, L. indicus was chosen as a model organism to investigate whether there is taxonomic inflation or hidden diversity. Newly collected specimens of L. indicus were subjected to various fixatives for morphological assessment, and hologenophores of the same were obtained to determine whether true variations exist in their genotype or if they are merely fixation-induced variations. Despite morphological variations associated with fixation, molecular data indicated that they were indeed the same specimens. The taxonomic status of 43 new taxa was critically evaluated, with most of them tentatively synonymised with L. indicus. Others were also found to be conspecific with L. indicus but were classified as unavailable names based on their first description in unpublished dissertations.
{"title":"Taxonomic inflation or hidden diversity: unveiling the fact surrounds Lytocestus indicus (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea).","authors":"Roshmi Biswas, Daniel Barčák, Mikuláš Oros, Bhairab Kumar Patra, Jit Marick, Anirban Ash","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08336-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00436-024-08336-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The tapeworms belonging to the order Caryophyllidea (Platyhelminthes, Eucestoda) represent a widespread group of intestinal parasites found in cypriniform and siluriform fishes. This group comprises four families (Balanotaeniidae, Capingentidae, Caryophyllaeidae, Lytocestidae), 42 genera and approximately 130 described species. Additionally, over a hundred new taxa have been reported from India. While many of these taxa are endemic and have unique evolutionary importance, a considerable number of putative new taxa were also invalidated because the quality and reliability of the published data did not meet the requirements. Various researchers have synonymised 28 species into a single representative, Lytocestus indicus (Moghe, 1925) Woodland, 1926. Consequently, L. indicus was chosen as a model organism to investigate whether there is taxonomic inflation or hidden diversity. Newly collected specimens of L. indicus were subjected to various fixatives for morphological assessment, and hologenophores of the same were obtained to determine whether true variations exist in their genotype or if they are merely fixation-induced variations. Despite morphological variations associated with fixation, molecular data indicated that they were indeed the same specimens. The taxonomic status of 43 new taxa was critically evaluated, with most of them tentatively synonymised with L. indicus. Others were also found to be conspecific with L. indicus but were classified as unavailable names based on their first description in unpublished dissertations.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-19DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08332-9
Julia Martini Falkenberg, Vitória Maria Moreira de Lima, Telton Pedro Anselmo Ramos, Ana Carolina Figueiredo Lacerda
This study examined the metrics of the macroparasite community in fishes from the Jaguaribe River basin, state of Ceará, before and after receiving water from the São Francisco River in Northeastern Brazil. This research assessed the association of environmental factors (water parameters) and the traits of 30 fish species on the parasite richness and abundance across space (river course) and time (seasons, pre- and post-transposition periods). Generalized linear models reveal associations between parasite metrics and host traits, water parameters, and river sub-basin. Host size and body condition positively correlated with parasite richness and abundance, while reproductive phase was negatively related. Water quality impacted ecto- and endoparasites differently, with seasonal and sub-basins variations and differences among sub-basins. The general models also indicate that the period is a significant variable, where parasite richness decreases while abundance increases in the post-transposition period. This study underscores the importance of considering diverse environmental and host variables for understanding parasite dynamics in river ecosystems. These findings could lead to valuable insights for ecosystem management and conservation, elucidating the potential consequences of environmental alterations on parasite-host interactions and ecosystem health.
{"title":"Drivers of richness and abundance of parasites of fishes from an intermittent river before and after an interbasin water transfer in the Brazilian semi-arid region","authors":"Julia Martini Falkenberg, Vitória Maria Moreira de Lima, Telton Pedro Anselmo Ramos, Ana Carolina Figueiredo Lacerda","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08332-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08332-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study examined the metrics of the macroparasite community in fishes from the Jaguaribe River basin, state of Ceará, before and after receiving water from the São Francisco River in Northeastern Brazil. This research assessed the association of environmental factors (water parameters) and the traits of 30 fish species on the parasite richness and abundance across space (river course) and time (seasons, pre- and post-transposition periods). Generalized linear models reveal associations between parasite metrics and host traits, water parameters, and river sub-basin. Host size and body condition positively correlated with parasite richness and abundance, while reproductive phase was negatively related. Water quality impacted ecto- and endoparasites differently, with seasonal and sub-basins variations and differences among sub-basins. The general models also indicate that the period is a significant variable, where parasite richness decreases while abundance increases in the post-transposition period. This study underscores the importance of considering diverse environmental and host variables for understanding parasite dynamics in river ecosystems. These findings could lead to valuable insights for ecosystem management and conservation, elucidating the potential consequences of environmental alterations on parasite-host interactions and ecosystem health.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-19DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08337-4
Sinem Akdeniz, Gozde Nur Akkus, Beyza Avci, Aycan N. Gazyagci, Kader Yildiz
This study aimed to report the presence of Mesocestoides litteratus in dogs adopted from shelters in Türkiye. Gravid segments were examined microscopically in the faeces of dogs from different shelters located in Ankara and Kirikkale provinces in the central region of Türkiye. Then, genomic DNA obtained from these segments, a 446-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene, and a 350-bp fragment of mitochondrial 12S rRNA were amplified and sequenced. BLASTn search was performed. During light microscopic examination, an egg-filled paruterine organ was observed in the middle part of the segment. Thin-shelled, oval, 35-µm-diameter parasite eggs containing an oncosphere with three pairs of hooklets were observed. The gravid segments were determined as Mesocestoides spp. based on the appearance of the typical paruterine organ. PCR results supported our diagnosis; moreover, according to the BLAST results, it was detected that the species infecting two dogs was 98.01–100% similar to M. litteratus. Praziquantel-containing medication was administered to the infected dogs at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. Foxes act as the final host of M. litteratus and the parasite is prevalent in wildlife; however, these animals may disperse the parasite in urban life. Veterinarians need to be made more aware of this parasite, especially if the dogs are owned from shelters.
{"title":"Crossroad between the sylvatic and domestic cycles of Mesocestoides litteratus: mesocestodiasis in dogs adopted from shelters in Türkiye","authors":"Sinem Akdeniz, Gozde Nur Akkus, Beyza Avci, Aycan N. Gazyagci, Kader Yildiz","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08337-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08337-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to report the presence of <i>Mesocestoides litteratus</i> in dogs adopted from shelters in Türkiye. Gravid segments were examined microscopically in the faeces of dogs from different shelters located in Ankara and Kirikkale provinces in the central region of Türkiye. Then, genomic DNA obtained from these segments, a 446-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene, and a 350-bp fragment of mitochondrial 12S rRNA were amplified and sequenced. BLASTn search was performed. During light microscopic examination, an egg-filled paruterine organ was observed in the middle part of the segment. Thin-shelled, oval, 35-µm-diameter parasite eggs containing an oncosphere with three pairs of hooklets were observed. The gravid segments were determined as <i>Mesocestoides</i> spp. based on the appearance of the typical paruterine organ. PCR results supported our diagnosis; moreover, according to the BLAST results, it was detected that the species infecting two dogs was 98.01–100% similar to <i>M. litteratus</i>. Praziquantel-containing medication was administered to the infected dogs at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. Foxes act as the final host of <i>M. litteratus</i> and the parasite is prevalent in wildlife; however, these animals may disperse the parasite in urban life. Veterinarians need to be made more aware of this parasite, especially if the dogs are owned from shelters.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-19DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08339-2
Haley R. Dutton, Stephen A. Bullard, John H. Brule, Anita M. Kelly
We examined several American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802) (Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) from Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina in August 2022. The intestine of one alligator from Alabama was infected by Dracovermis occidentalis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978 (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Liolopidae Odhner, 1912), a seldom collected and incompletely described trematode that lacks a representative nucleotide sequence. Liolopidae comprises 5 genera and 15 species: Liolope spp. infect giant salamanders; Helicotrema spp. infect turtles and lizards; Harmotrema spp. infect snakes; Paraharmotrema spp. infect turtles; and Dracovermis spp. infect crocodilians. Based on our study of the newly collected specimens and the holotype of D. occidentalis, we redescribe D. occidentalis, correct errors in its original description, and provide an updated phylogeny for Liolopidae that, for the first time, includes Dracovermis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978. Our specimens were identified as D. occidentalis by having testes in the posterior 1/3 of the body, a pretesticular cirrus sac, a spined and eversible cirrus, a bipartite seminal vesicle, and a post-acetabular vitellarium. A phylogenetic analysis of the D1–D3 domains of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S) recovered Liolopidae as monophyletic; however, low taxon sampling in the group precludes hypothesis-testing about liolopid-vertebrate cophyly. This is the first collection for morphological study of the type species for Dracovermis since the genus was proposed 46 years ago, the first record of a liolopid from Alabama, and the first phylogenetic analysis that includes Dracovermis.
2022年8月,我们对路易斯安那州、阿拉巴马州和南卡罗来纳州的几条美洲短吻鳄(Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802))(鳄鱼目:鳄鱼科)进行了检查。来自阿拉巴马州的一条短吻鳄的肠道受到了Dracovermis occidentalis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978(扁形动物:Digenea: Liolopidae Odhner, 1912)的感染,这是一种很少被采集、描述不完整、缺乏代表性核苷酸序列的吸虫。Liolopidae 包括 5 属 15 种:Liolope 属感染大鲵;Helicotrema 属感染龟和蜥蜴;Harmotrema 属感染蛇;Paraharmotrema 属感染龟;Dracovermis 属感染鳄鱼。根据我们对新采集的标本和 D. occidentalis 主模式的研究,我们重新描述了 D. occidentalis,纠正了其原始描述中的错误,并提供了最新的 Liolopidae 系统发育,其中首次包括了 Dracovermis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978。我们的标本通过睾丸位于身体的后 1/3、睾丸前的卷须囊、有棘且可倒转的卷须、双分隔的精囊和髋臼后的玻璃体被鉴定为西氏栉水母(D. occidentalis)。对核大亚基核糖体 DNA(28S)D1-D3 域的系统发生分析表明,犁头鱼科为单系;然而,由于该类群的分类群取样较少,因此无法对犁头鱼科与无脊椎动物的共生关系进行假设检验。这是自 46 年前提出 Dracovermis 属以来首次采集该属的模式种进行形态学研究,也是首次记录来自阿拉巴马州的桡足类,同时也是首次包括 Dracovermis 在内的系统发生学分析。
{"title":"Redescription of Dracovermis occidentalis (Digenea: Liolopidae) infecting American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis from the Bon-Secour River (Mobile–Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, USA) and a revised phylogeny for Liolopidae","authors":"Haley R. Dutton, Stephen A. Bullard, John H. Brule, Anita M. Kelly","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08339-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08339-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We examined several American alligators, <i>Alligator mississippiensis</i> (Daudin, 1802) (Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) from Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina in August 2022. The intestine of one alligator from Alabama was infected by <i>Dracovermis occidentalis</i> Brooks and Overstreet, 1978 (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Liolopidae Odhner, 1912), a seldom collected and incompletely described trematode that lacks a representative nucleotide sequence. Liolopidae comprises 5 genera and 15 species: <i>Liolope</i> spp. infect giant salamanders; <i>Helicotrema</i> spp. infect turtles and lizards; <i>Harmotrema</i> spp. infect snakes; <i>Paraharmotrema</i> spp. infect turtles; and <i>Dracovermis</i> spp. infect crocodilians. Based on our study of the newly collected specimens and the holotype of <i>D. occidentalis</i>, we redescribe <i>D. occidentalis</i>, correct errors in its original description, and provide an updated phylogeny for Liolopidae that, for the first time, includes <i>Dracovermis</i> Brooks and Overstreet, 1978. Our specimens were identified as <i>D. occidentalis</i> by having testes in the posterior 1/3 of the body, a pretesticular cirrus sac, a spined and eversible cirrus, a bipartite seminal vesicle, and a post-acetabular vitellarium. A phylogenetic analysis of the D1–D3 domains of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (<i>28S</i>) recovered Liolopidae as monophyletic; however, low taxon sampling in the group precludes hypothesis-testing about liolopid-vertebrate cophyly. This is the first collection for morphological study of the type species for <i>Dracovermis</i> since the genus was proposed 46 years ago, the first record of a liolopid from Alabama, and the first phylogenetic analysis that includes <i>Dracovermis</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigates anopheline species diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, employing morphological and molecular methods, focusing on the D3 domain of 28S rRNA (D3) and second internal spacer (ITS2). Ten Anopheline species were identified morphologically and confirmed with molecular markers. While the D3 region demonstrated low level of inter- and intra-specific genetic distance in all the species, ITS2 revealed clear barcoding gap. Among the ten species, A. barbirostris exhibited significant diversity when compared with the sequences from other countries available in GenBank. Further analyses of additional samples of A. barbirostris were carried out using ITS2 and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) markers. Limited variations among the sequences from the islands were observed, suggesting a prevalent single molecular form. However, when compared with the GenBank sequences, our samples formed a separate cluster closely related to the A3 species. The genetic distance between our samples and the A3 cluster was 0.02 for COI but very high (0.104) for ITS2, suggesting a potentially new molecular form or species in the island region. This warrants a more comprehensive and detailed analysis of A. barbirostris in these islands at both genetic and morphometric levels. Overall, these observations added-up the new knowledge in the understanding of anopheline diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago and highlight the necessity for continuous molecular investigations to unravel complexities within mosquito population dynamics.
{"title":"Molecular characterization of anopheline species diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, with a particular emphasis on Anopheles barbirostris","authors":"Vidhya Thiruvoth Pachalil, Bhavna Gupta, Anwesh Maile, Ittoop Pulikkottil Sunish","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08348-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08348-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates anopheline species diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, employing morphological and molecular methods, focusing on the D3 domain of 28S rRNA (D3) and second internal spacer (ITS2). Ten Anopheline species were identified morphologically and confirmed with molecular markers. While the D3 region demonstrated low level of inter- and intra-specific genetic distance in all the species, ITS2 revealed clear barcoding gap. Among the ten species, <i>A. barbirostris</i> exhibited significant diversity when compared with the sequences from other countries available in GenBank. Further analyses of additional samples of <i>A. barbirostris</i> were carried out using ITS2 and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) markers. Limited variations among the sequences from the islands were observed, suggesting a prevalent single molecular form. However, when compared with the GenBank sequences, our samples formed a separate cluster closely related to the A3 species. The genetic distance between our samples and the A3 cluster was 0.02 for COI but very high (0.104) for ITS2, suggesting a potentially new molecular form or species in the island region. This warrants a more comprehensive and detailed analysis of <i>A. barbirostris</i> in these islands at both genetic and morphometric levels. Overall, these observations added-up the new knowledge in the understanding of anopheline diversity in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago and highlight the necessity for continuous molecular investigations to unravel complexities within mosquito population dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarcocystis infection in sheep has caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry, and the genetic similarity among Sarcocystis species highlights the need for precise diagnostic methods in sheep. This study developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method targeting COX-1 and 28S rRNA genes to detect Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis gigantea, respectively. The LAMP method exhibited high specificity, selectively amplifying target DNA sequences without cross-reactivity with closely related protozoa, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Detection limits were determined as 3 × 105 copies/L for S. tenella and 6 × 104 copies/L for S. gigantea, enabling sensitive identification of low-level infections. Comparative analysis with conventional PCR on sheep cardiac tissues demonstrated a higher LAMP detection rate (80.0% vs 66.7%). In conclusion, the LAMP method offers superior sensitivity to conventional PCR, allows visual confirmation of results, and provides a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying S. tenella and S. gigantea infection in sheep. However, due to the limitation of sample availability, we were unable to assess all Sarcocystis species that use sheep as intermediate hosts, which warrants further research.
{"title":"Development of a highly specific LAMP assay for detection of Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis gigantea in sheep","authors":"Yajie Chen, Jing Peng, Zifu Zhu, Wen Zhang, Lifang Wang, Jianhai Xu, Qun Liu, Jing Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08349-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08349-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Sarcocystis</i> infection in sheep has caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry, and the genetic similarity among <i>Sarcocystis</i> species highlights the need for precise diagnostic methods in sheep. This study developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method targeting <i>COX-1</i> and <i>28S rRNA</i> genes to detect <i>Sarcocystis tenella</i> and <i>Sarcocystis gigantea</i>, respectively. The LAMP method exhibited high specificity, selectively amplifying target DNA sequences without cross-reactivity with closely related protozoa, such as <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i>. Detection limits were determined as 3 × 10<sup>5</sup> copies/L for <i>S. tenella</i> and 6 × 10<sup>4</sup> copies/L for <i>S. gigantea</i>, enabling sensitive identification of low-level infections. Comparative analysis with conventional PCR on sheep cardiac tissues demonstrated a higher LAMP detection rate (80.0% vs 66.7%). In conclusion, the LAMP method offers superior sensitivity to conventional PCR, allows visual confirmation of results, and provides a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying <i>S. tenella</i> and <i>S. gigantea</i> infection in sheep. However, due to the limitation of sample availability, we were unable to assess all <i>Sarcocystis</i> species that use sheep as intermediate hosts, which warrants further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142249782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-10DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08344-5
Shumaila Naz, Muhammed Nalcaci, Obaid Hayat, Seray Toz, Azhar Minhas, Shahid Waseem, Yusuf Ozbel
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) stands out as a significant vector-borne endemic in Pakistan. Despite the rising incidence of CL, the genetic diversity of Leishmania species in the country’s endemic regions remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to uncover the genetic diversity and molecular characteristics of Leishmania species in CL-endemic areas of Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Punjab in Pakistan. Clinical samples from 300 CL patients were put to microscopic examination, real-time ITS-1 PCR, and sequencing. Predominantly affecting males between 16 to 30 years of age, with lesions primarily on hands and faces, the majority presented with nodular and plaque types. Microscopic analysis revealed a positivity rate of 67.8%, while real-time PCR identified 60.98% positive cases, mainly L. tropica, followed by L. infantum and L. major. Leishmania major (p = 0.009) showed substantially greater variation in nucleotide sequences than L. tropica (p = 0.07) and L. infantum (p = 0.03). Nucleotide diversity analysis indicated higher diversity in L. major and L. infantum compared to L. tropica. This study enhances our understanding of CL epidemiology in Pakistan, stressing the crucial role of molecular techniques in accurate species identification. The foundational data provided here emphasizes the necessity for future research to investigate deeper into genetic diversity and its implications for CL control at both individual and community levels.
皮肤利什曼病(CL)是巴基斯坦重要的病媒流行病。尽管皮肤利什曼病的发病率不断上升,但该国流行地区利什曼病菌的遗传多样性仍未得到充分探索。本研究旨在揭示巴基斯坦俾路支省、开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省(KPK)和旁遮普省 CL 流行地区利什曼原虫的遗传多样性和分子特征。对 300 名 CL 患者的临床样本进行了显微镜检查、实时 ITS-1 PCR 和测序。CL患者主要为16至30岁的男性,皮损主要发生在手部和面部,大多数表现为结节型和斑块型。显微镜分析显示阳性率为 67.8%,而实时 PCR 鉴定出的阳性病例占 60.98%,主要是热带利什曼原虫,其次是幼年利什曼原虫和大体利什曼原虫。与 L. tropica(p = 0.07)和 L. infantum(p = 0.03)相比,大利什曼原虫(p = 0.009)的核苷酸序列变异要大得多。核苷酸多样性分析表明,与 L. tropica 相比,L. major 和 L. infantum 的多样性更高。这项研究加深了我们对巴基斯坦 CL 流行病学的了解,强调了分子技术在准确鉴定物种方面的关键作用。本文提供的基础数据强调了未来研究的必要性,即深入研究遗传多样性及其对个体和群体层面的 CL 控制的影响。
{"title":"Genetic diversity and epidemiological insights into cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan: a comprehensive study on clinical manifestations and molecular characterization of Leishmania species","authors":"Shumaila Naz, Muhammed Nalcaci, Obaid Hayat, Seray Toz, Azhar Minhas, Shahid Waseem, Yusuf Ozbel","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08344-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08344-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) stands out as a significant vector-borne endemic in Pakistan. Despite the rising incidence of CL, the genetic diversity of <i>Leishmania</i> species in the country’s endemic regions remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to uncover the genetic diversity and molecular characteristics of <i>Leishmania</i> species in CL-endemic areas of Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Punjab in Pakistan. Clinical samples from 300 CL patients were put to microscopic examination, real-time ITS-1 PCR, and sequencing. Predominantly affecting males between 16 to 30 years of age, with lesions primarily on hands and faces, the majority presented with nodular and plaque types. Microscopic analysis revealed a positivity rate of 67.8%, while real-time PCR identified 60.98% positive cases, mainly <i>L. tropica</i>, followed by <i>L. infantum</i> and <i>L. major. Leishmania major</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.009) showed substantially greater variation in nucleotide sequences than <i>L. tropica</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.07) and <i>L. infantum</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.03)<i>.</i> Nucleotide diversity analysis indicated higher diversity in <i>L. major and L. infantum</i> compared to <i>L. tropica.</i> This study enhances our understanding of CL epidemiology in Pakistan, stressing the crucial role of molecular techniques in accurate species identification. The foundational data provided here emphasizes the necessity for future research to investigate deeper into genetic diversity and its implications for CL control at both individual and community levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142219801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-10DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08342-7
Madalena Vieira-Pinto, Francesco Chiesa, Isabel Cristina Ribeiro Pires, Carmen Gonzalez Duarte, Selene Rubiola
Sarcocystis is a genus of protozoa with a worldwide distribution infecting a wide range of animals, including humans. Wild boars can harbor at least two species of Sarcocystis, that is, the zoonotic Sarcocystis suihominis, using humans as definitive hosts, and Sarcocystis miescheriana, for which wild and domestic canids serve as definitive hosts. In Portugal, hunting holds significant economic and social importance, and wild boars are among the most appreciated hunted species. As the consumption of wild boar meat can expose humans to several foodborne pathogens, the presence of trained hunters can make a difference in ensuring animal health surveillance and food safety. Herein, we report the detection of macroscopic cystic lesions associated with S. miescheriana in a wild boar hunted for human consumption, resulting in carcass condemnation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the presence of S. miescheriana in wild boar tissues has never been associated with macroscopic pathological alterations before. Although S. miescheriana cannot infect humans, carcasses affected by grossly visible pathological changes must be declared unfit for consumption. Therefore, our finding points out the potential economic damage associated with carcass rejection due to the presence of gross lesions associated with generalized sarcocystosis. Nonetheless, further studies are required to investigate these alterations that currently appear to be occasional findings.
Sarcocystis 是一种原生动物属,分布于世界各地,可感染包括人类在内的多种动物。野猪至少可携带两种 Sarcocystis,即以人类为最终宿主的人畜共患 Sarcocystis suihominis,以及以野生和家养犬科动物为最终宿主的 Sarcocystis miescheriana。在葡萄牙,狩猎具有重要的经济和社会意义,野猪是最受欢迎的狩猎物种之一。由于食用野猪肉会使人类接触到多种食源性病原体,因此训练有素的猎人可以在确保动物健康监测和食品安全方面发挥重要作用。在本文中,我们报告了在为人类消费而猎捕的野猪身上发现与 S. miescheriana 相关的宏观囊性病变,并因此对其胴体进行了处理。据作者所知,野猪组织中出现的 S. miescheriana 以前从未与宏观病理变化相关联。虽然 S. miescheriana 不会感染人类,但受明显病理变化影响的胴体必须被宣布为不适合食用。因此,我们的研究结果指出,由于存在与全身性肉眼可见囊肿病相关的严重病变,胴体被拒绝食用可能会造成经济损失。尽管如此,还需要进一步研究这些目前看来只是偶尔发现的病变。
{"title":"Gross lesions associated with Sarcocystis miescheriana in a wild boar hunted for human consumption: the importance of trained hunters to ensure animal health surveillance and food safety","authors":"Madalena Vieira-Pinto, Francesco Chiesa, Isabel Cristina Ribeiro Pires, Carmen Gonzalez Duarte, Selene Rubiola","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08342-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08342-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Sarcocystis</i> is a genus of protozoa with a worldwide distribution infecting a wide range of animals, including humans. Wild boars can harbor at least two species of <i>Sarcocystis</i>, that is, the zoonotic <i>Sarcocystis suihominis</i>, using humans as definitive hosts, and <i>Sarcocystis miescheriana</i>, for which wild and domestic canids serve as definitive hosts. In Portugal, hunting holds significant economic and social importance, and wild boars are among the most appreciated hunted species. As the consumption of wild boar meat can expose humans to several foodborne pathogens, the presence of trained hunters can make a difference in ensuring animal health surveillance and food safety. Herein, we report the detection of macroscopic cystic lesions associated with <i>S. miescheriana</i> in a wild boar hunted for human consumption, resulting in carcass condemnation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the presence of <i>S. miescheriana</i> in wild boar tissues has never been associated with macroscopic pathological alterations before. Although <i>S. miescheriana</i> cannot infect humans, carcasses affected by grossly visible pathological changes must be declared unfit for consumption. Therefore, our finding points out the potential economic damage associated with carcass rejection due to the presence of gross lesions associated with generalized sarcocystosis. Nonetheless, further studies are required to investigate these alterations that currently appear to be occasional findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142219802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}