Pub Date : 2022-01-13DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia2010002
C. Meiser, J. K. Pausch, G. Schaub
Intestinal homeostasis mechanisms of the haematophagous triatomines regulate the development of mutualistic symbionts and other gut bacteria. Investigating antimicrobial compounds of these insects, we have determined spectrophotometrically that the bacteriolytic activity is between pH 3 and pH 9 using homogenates of fifth instar Triatoma infestans stomachs and small intestines from unfed bugs and up to 50 days after feeding. The activity against Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus was strongest at pH 4 and pH 7 and was higher in the stomach than in the small intestine. Symbiotic Rhodococcus triatomae were not lysed. Lysis of Gram-negative Escherichia coli showed a maximum at pH 7 in the stomach and at pH 5 in the small intestine. Bacteriolytic activity against both M. luteus and E. coli was reduced 24 h after feeding, then increased, and at 50 days after feeding was strongly reduced. In zymographs, the activity against M. luteus was mainly correlated to proteins of about 16 kDa. At different periods of time after feeding, seven bands of lysis appeared between 15 and 40 kDa and more bands using extracts of the small intestine than those of the stomach. This is the first proof for the synthesis of antibacterial proteins of 22–40 kDa in triatomines.
{"title":"Feeding-Induced Changes of Bacteriolytic Activity and the Pattern of Bacteriolytic Compounds in the Stomach and Small Intestine of the Haematophagous Bug Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Reduviidae, Triatominae)","authors":"C. Meiser, J. K. Pausch, G. Schaub","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia2010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2010002","url":null,"abstract":"Intestinal homeostasis mechanisms of the haematophagous triatomines regulate the development of mutualistic symbionts and other gut bacteria. Investigating antimicrobial compounds of these insects, we have determined spectrophotometrically that the bacteriolytic activity is between pH 3 and pH 9 using homogenates of fifth instar Triatoma infestans stomachs and small intestines from unfed bugs and up to 50 days after feeding. The activity against Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus was strongest at pH 4 and pH 7 and was higher in the stomach than in the small intestine. Symbiotic Rhodococcus triatomae were not lysed. Lysis of Gram-negative Escherichia coli showed a maximum at pH 7 in the stomach and at pH 5 in the small intestine. Bacteriolytic activity against both M. luteus and E. coli was reduced 24 h after feeding, then increased, and at 50 days after feeding was strongly reduced. In zymographs, the activity against M. luteus was mainly correlated to proteins of about 16 kDa. At different periods of time after feeding, seven bands of lysis appeared between 15 and 40 kDa and more bands using extracts of the small intestine than those of the stomach. This is the first proof for the synthesis of antibacterial proteins of 22–40 kDa in triatomines.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45030859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia2010001
S. Knowles, E. Leis, J. Richard, R. Cole, Rose E. Agbalog, Joel G. Putnam, T. Goldberg, D. Waller
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA. Histopathology and transmission electron microscopy showed a novel microsporidian parasite primarily infecting the ovary of pheasantshell. Sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene produced a 1333 bp sequence with the greatest similarity to Pseudonosema cristatellae (AF484694.1; 86.36%; e-value = 0), a microsporidium infecting the freshwater bryozoan (Cristatella mucedo). Microsporidia were observed in 65% (17/26) of the examined female pheasantshell (A. pectorosa) and in no (0/2) female muckets (A. ligamentina) and occurred at mortality and non-mortality sites. Our findings indicate that a novel parasite, Microsporidium clinchi n. sp., is present in pheasantshell in the Clinch River, and while likely not a cause of mass mortality, could reduce fecundity and recruitment in this declining population and threaten the success of reintroductions. Surveillance of M. clinchi n. sp. and evaluation of broodstock and their progeny for microsporidia would therefore be prudent.
{"title":"A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA","authors":"S. Knowles, E. Leis, J. Richard, R. Cole, Rose E. Agbalog, Joel G. Putnam, T. Goldberg, D. Waller","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia2010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2010001","url":null,"abstract":"Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA. Histopathology and transmission electron microscopy showed a novel microsporidian parasite primarily infecting the ovary of pheasantshell. Sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene produced a 1333 bp sequence with the greatest similarity to Pseudonosema cristatellae (AF484694.1; 86.36%; e-value = 0), a microsporidium infecting the freshwater bryozoan (Cristatella mucedo). Microsporidia were observed in 65% (17/26) of the examined female pheasantshell (A. pectorosa) and in no (0/2) female muckets (A. ligamentina) and occurred at mortality and non-mortality sites. Our findings indicate that a novel parasite, Microsporidium clinchi n. sp., is present in pheasantshell in the Clinch River, and while likely not a cause of mass mortality, could reduce fecundity and recruitment in this declining population and threaten the success of reintroductions. Surveillance of M. clinchi n. sp. and evaluation of broodstock and their progeny for microsporidia would therefore be prudent.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48759492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-12-07DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040027
Mohamed Aly Ould Lemrabott, Khadijetou Mint Lekweiry, J. Deida, Oum kelthoum Mamadou Djigo, M. S. Ould Ahmedou Salem, Yacoub Ould Khalef, H. Bogreau, F. Simard, L. Basco, A. Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary
The construction of dams along the Senegal River resulted in an increase in irrigated land areas and changes in the epidemiology and transmission of water-related diseases. The objective of this study was to update epidemiological data on malaria in Rosso, one of the major Mauritanian cities along the Senegal River. Febrile patients (n = 318) were screened for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria and microscopic examination of blood smears. Diagnosis was later confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mean age of 318 febrile patients was 25.1 (range 1–80 years). Only 7 (2.2%) and 2 (0.6%) had a positive RDT and thick smear, respectively. PCR confirmed the diagnosis in two Plasmodium vivax-infected patients. Most participants (198/318, 62.3%) had no recent travel history outside Rosso. The majority of the febrile patients (90%, 284/311) owned at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN). The frequency of the use of ITNs was not significantly associated with season (rainy vs. dry seasons; p = 0.9) or with the number of ITNs per household (rs = 0.07; n = 285; p = 0.19). Of 285 individuals with ITNs, only two (0.7%) with no travel history were PCR-positive for malaria. Despite the presence of mosquito breeding sites related to rice irrigation, malaria transmission in Rosso remained very low, possibly due to the high coverage and frequent use of bed nets. Regular entomological surveillance for possible changes in the prevalence of Anopheles mosquito species and their behavioural aspects should be implemented.
{"title":"Low Malaria Transmission in Rosso, an Irrigated Rice-Growing Area in Mauritania","authors":"Mohamed Aly Ould Lemrabott, Khadijetou Mint Lekweiry, J. Deida, Oum kelthoum Mamadou Djigo, M. S. Ould Ahmedou Salem, Yacoub Ould Khalef, H. Bogreau, F. Simard, L. Basco, A. Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040027","url":null,"abstract":"The construction of dams along the Senegal River resulted in an increase in irrigated land areas and changes in the epidemiology and transmission of water-related diseases. The objective of this study was to update epidemiological data on malaria in Rosso, one of the major Mauritanian cities along the Senegal River. Febrile patients (n = 318) were screened for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria and microscopic examination of blood smears. Diagnosis was later confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mean age of 318 febrile patients was 25.1 (range 1–80 years). Only 7 (2.2%) and 2 (0.6%) had a positive RDT and thick smear, respectively. PCR confirmed the diagnosis in two Plasmodium vivax-infected patients. Most participants (198/318, 62.3%) had no recent travel history outside Rosso. The majority of the febrile patients (90%, 284/311) owned at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN). The frequency of the use of ITNs was not significantly associated with season (rainy vs. dry seasons; p = 0.9) or with the number of ITNs per household (rs = 0.07; n = 285; p = 0.19). Of 285 individuals with ITNs, only two (0.7%) with no travel history were PCR-positive for malaria. Despite the presence of mosquito breeding sites related to rice irrigation, malaria transmission in Rosso remained very low, possibly due to the high coverage and frequent use of bed nets. Regular entomological surveillance for possible changes in the prevalence of Anopheles mosquito species and their behavioural aspects should be implemented.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48036557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-18DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040026
Annabelle Marquez, Kieran Eamens, Mark E. Westman, J. Šlapeta
Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and Ctenocephalides felis are considered the most prevalent ectoparasites of dogs in the Philippines. Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in these ectoparasites pose health risks to humans and animals. This study aimed to confirm the morphological and molecular identity of tick and flea species parasitising dogs in Metro Manila (Philippines) and molecularly investigate the possible presence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma platys DNA. Ticks (n = 58) and fleas (n = 52) on dogs from three veterinary clinics in Metro Manila were collected and identified morphologically and molecularly via amplification and sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1). Aliquots of ectoparasite DNA underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) screening for VBPs. All ticks were R. linnaei (formerly R. sanguineus s.l. “tropical lineage”), while all fleas were C. felis from clade 6 of the tropical II cluster/“Cairns” clade known from Australia. DNA of B. clarridgeiae was detected in 10% of fleas. DNA of R. felis was detected in 10% of fleas and in 3.8% of ticks. DNA of E. canis and A. platys was not detected. This study confirmed the presence of ticks and fleas as frequent ectoparasites on dogs and VBP presence emphasises the importance of preventative actions for animal health and welfare.
{"title":"Vector-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Fleas of Client-Owned Dogs in Metro Manila, Philippines","authors":"Annabelle Marquez, Kieran Eamens, Mark E. Westman, J. Šlapeta","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040026","url":null,"abstract":"Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and Ctenocephalides felis are considered the most prevalent ectoparasites of dogs in the Philippines. Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in these ectoparasites pose health risks to humans and animals. This study aimed to confirm the morphological and molecular identity of tick and flea species parasitising dogs in Metro Manila (Philippines) and molecularly investigate the possible presence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma platys DNA. Ticks (n = 58) and fleas (n = 52) on dogs from three veterinary clinics in Metro Manila were collected and identified morphologically and molecularly via amplification and sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1). Aliquots of ectoparasite DNA underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) screening for VBPs. All ticks were R. linnaei (formerly R. sanguineus s.l. “tropical lineage”), while all fleas were C. felis from clade 6 of the tropical II cluster/“Cairns” clade known from Australia. DNA of B. clarridgeiae was detected in 10% of fleas. DNA of R. felis was detected in 10% of fleas and in 3.8% of ticks. DNA of E. canis and A. platys was not detected. This study confirmed the presence of ticks and fleas as frequent ectoparasites on dogs and VBP presence emphasises the importance of preventative actions for animal health and welfare.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47247253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-04DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040025
Juan Francisco Alvarez, R. Ruiz, J. Ríos, C. A. Alvarez Rojas
Echinococcus granulosus is endemic in the Magallanes region and other areas of Chile. After a successful control programme implemented between 1979 and 2004, dogs’ prevalence decreased from 70% to 0.5%. Since the end of the programme, no prevalence study of canine echinococcosis has been performed in this region. Dog faecal samples were collected from epidemiological units for DNA isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect E. granulosus. In addition, dog owners were required to answer a questionnaire for a risk factor analysis. We collected 1069 environmental dog faecal samples from 267 urban, 241 periurban, and 61 rural epidemiological units. E. granulosus was found in 11/61 (18%) and 1/241 (0.4%) epidemiological units from rural and periurban areas, respectively. The Ultima Esperanza province showed the highest prevalence with eight out of 16 units with faeces positive to E. granulosus showing a main spatial cluster of canine echinococcosis. None of the risk factors investigated showed a statistical significance with positive units. This study shows the active transmission of the parasite in the Magallanes region, especially in the Ultima Esperanza province, with a possible re-emergence of the parasite. Further studies focusing on the incidence in humans are required together with the reestablishment of the compulsory deworming of dogs.
{"title":"Molecular Detection of Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto in Environmental Dog Faecal Samples from the Magallanes Region, Patagonia, Chile","authors":"Juan Francisco Alvarez, R. Ruiz, J. Ríos, C. A. Alvarez Rojas","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040025","url":null,"abstract":"Echinococcus granulosus is endemic in the Magallanes region and other areas of Chile. After a successful control programme implemented between 1979 and 2004, dogs’ prevalence decreased from 70% to 0.5%. Since the end of the programme, no prevalence study of canine echinococcosis has been performed in this region. Dog faecal samples were collected from epidemiological units for DNA isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect E. granulosus. In addition, dog owners were required to answer a questionnaire for a risk factor analysis. We collected 1069 environmental dog faecal samples from 267 urban, 241 periurban, and 61 rural epidemiological units. E. granulosus was found in 11/61 (18%) and 1/241 (0.4%) epidemiological units from rural and periurban areas, respectively. The Ultima Esperanza province showed the highest prevalence with eight out of 16 units with faeces positive to E. granulosus showing a main spatial cluster of canine echinococcosis. None of the risk factors investigated showed a statistical significance with positive units. This study shows the active transmission of the parasite in the Magallanes region, especially in the Ultima Esperanza province, with a possible re-emergence of the parasite. Further studies focusing on the incidence in humans are required together with the reestablishment of the compulsory deworming of dogs.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43630217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-20DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040024
Sarah Kymberly Santos de Lima, Italo Novais Cavallone, K. Oliveira, L. Passero, M. Laurenti, J. Jesus, Gabriela Pustiglione Marinsek, T. M. Chucri, R. B. Mari
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most severe clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis as it leads to death in 90% of untreated cases. The liver, spleen and bone marrows are the organs most affected; however, Leishmania parasites are able to reach the intestines where the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is located. Under physiological conditions, the gastrointestinal tract and GALT interact with the enteric nervous system (SNE); however, there are no studies exploring the modulatory role of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in the intestines. Thus, this work aimed to investigate the parasitism, stratigraphy, and morphological changes in the myenteric plexus of golden hamsters infected with L. (L.) infantum. The animals were infected intraperitoneally, and the parasite load was evaluated in the spleen, the liver, and the jejunum. The stratigraphic evaluation and the quantitative and morphometric analyses of NADH-dp and NADPH-dp myenteric neurons were studied at 30-, 60-, and 90-days post-infection (DPI). Parasites in the spleen, the liver, and the jejunum increased during the progression of the infection. Stratigraphy studies showed a significant hypertrophy of the villi and the crypts associated with the increased intraepithelial lymphocytes that were observed in the jejunum of the infected animals. In addition, mucosal atrophy associated with a reduction in AB+ and PAS+ goblet cells was observed at 60 DPI and 90 DPI. These morphological changes were associated with an atrophy of the cell profile from NADPH-dp myenteric neurons. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the densities of this neuron population was observed in the chronic phase of the infection. This study suggests that L. (L.) infantum parasites are able to alter the morphology and innervation of the jejunum in golden hamsters.
{"title":"Infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum Changes the Morphology and Myenteric Neurons of the Jejunum of Golden Hamsters","authors":"Sarah Kymberly Santos de Lima, Italo Novais Cavallone, K. Oliveira, L. Passero, M. Laurenti, J. Jesus, Gabriela Pustiglione Marinsek, T. M. Chucri, R. B. Mari","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040024","url":null,"abstract":"Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most severe clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis as it leads to death in 90% of untreated cases. The liver, spleen and bone marrows are the organs most affected; however, Leishmania parasites are able to reach the intestines where the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is located. Under physiological conditions, the gastrointestinal tract and GALT interact with the enteric nervous system (SNE); however, there are no studies exploring the modulatory role of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in the intestines. Thus, this work aimed to investigate the parasitism, stratigraphy, and morphological changes in the myenteric plexus of golden hamsters infected with L. (L.) infantum. The animals were infected intraperitoneally, and the parasite load was evaluated in the spleen, the liver, and the jejunum. The stratigraphic evaluation and the quantitative and morphometric analyses of NADH-dp and NADPH-dp myenteric neurons were studied at 30-, 60-, and 90-days post-infection (DPI). Parasites in the spleen, the liver, and the jejunum increased during the progression of the infection. Stratigraphy studies showed a significant hypertrophy of the villi and the crypts associated with the increased intraepithelial lymphocytes that were observed in the jejunum of the infected animals. In addition, mucosal atrophy associated with a reduction in AB+ and PAS+ goblet cells was observed at 60 DPI and 90 DPI. These morphological changes were associated with an atrophy of the cell profile from NADPH-dp myenteric neurons. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the densities of this neuron population was observed in the chronic phase of the infection. This study suggests that L. (L.) infantum parasites are able to alter the morphology and innervation of the jejunum in golden hamsters.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44699924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-18DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040023
A. Elata, K. Suganuma, Ehab Mossaad, I. Zafar, E. Galon, Keiichiro Yoshimoto, Tohru Tanaka, X. Xuenan, S. Kawazu
5-aminolevulenic acid (ALA), an endogenous, non-proteinogenic, naturally occurring amino acid found in diverse organisms, is a precursor of heme biosynthesis. For apicomplexan protozoan parasites, an ALA and sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) combination was previously evaluated and suggested as a potential drug candidate for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of this combination against bovine babesiosis. ALA administration at 100 and 500 µM coupled with 10 µM SFC in culture medium significantly inhibited intraerythrocytic development and growth of Babesia bovis, which causes cerebral babesiosis in cattle, under in vitro culture. However, administration of 10 µM SFC only in the medium did not inhibit parasite growth. ALA/SFC was efficacious in treating babesiosis in an experimental animal model with B. microti, which causes debilitating babesiosis in mice. Female BALB/c mice were infected with B. microti and administered a single oral dose of ALA/SFC combination daily in different concentrations for 30 days. Treatment with ALA/SFC at 4/0.4 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed parasite development in the mice blood circulation and resulted in significantly lower parasitemia. Moreover, body weight loss in the mice has been improved significantly compared with the control group at the peak of parasitemia. Treated mice showed moderate decreases in red blood cell count, hemoglobin value, and hematocrit compared with those observed in the control group, indicating an effect in moderating progressive anemia. These findings suggested the potential of ALA/SFC to achieve symptomatic improvement against bovine babesiosis.
{"title":"Evaluation of 5-Aminolevulenic Acid Plus Ferrous Ion for Its Potential to Improve Symptoms of Bovine Babesiosis","authors":"A. Elata, K. Suganuma, Ehab Mossaad, I. Zafar, E. Galon, Keiichiro Yoshimoto, Tohru Tanaka, X. Xuenan, S. Kawazu","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040023","url":null,"abstract":"5-aminolevulenic acid (ALA), an endogenous, non-proteinogenic, naturally occurring amino acid found in diverse organisms, is a precursor of heme biosynthesis. For apicomplexan protozoan parasites, an ALA and sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) combination was previously evaluated and suggested as a potential drug candidate for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of this combination against bovine babesiosis. ALA administration at 100 and 500 µM coupled with 10 µM SFC in culture medium significantly inhibited intraerythrocytic development and growth of Babesia bovis, which causes cerebral babesiosis in cattle, under in vitro culture. However, administration of 10 µM SFC only in the medium did not inhibit parasite growth. ALA/SFC was efficacious in treating babesiosis in an experimental animal model with B. microti, which causes debilitating babesiosis in mice. Female BALB/c mice were infected with B. microti and administered a single oral dose of ALA/SFC combination daily in different concentrations for 30 days. Treatment with ALA/SFC at 4/0.4 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed parasite development in the mice blood circulation and resulted in significantly lower parasitemia. Moreover, body weight loss in the mice has been improved significantly compared with the control group at the peak of parasitemia. Treated mice showed moderate decreases in red blood cell count, hemoglobin value, and hematocrit compared with those observed in the control group, indicating an effect in moderating progressive anemia. These findings suggested the potential of ALA/SFC to achieve symptomatic improvement against bovine babesiosis.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41694831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-11DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040021
P. Ikeda, J. M. Torres, Ana Julia Vidal Placa, V. Mello, E. C. Lourenço, H. M. Herrera, Carina Elisei de Oliveira, C. Hemsley, R. Titball, R. Z. Machado, M. André
The Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) encompasses obligately intracellular bacteria of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Neorickettsia. Together with Coxiella burnetii (Coxiellaceae family, order Legionellales), these bacteria represent important causative agents of diseases in humans and animals. The scarcity of studies that investigated the occurrence of these agents in bats and their associated ectoparasites, emphasizes the need to achieve a better understanding of the role of these animals in the maintenance of such bacteria. Herein, 418 samples (133 blood, 135 spleen, and 150 ectoparasites) are collected from 135 non-hematophagous bats belonging to 12 species in a periurban area of Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, midwestern Brazil. In the results, 1.65% (7/418), 12.04% (50/418), and 13.63% (57/418) of samples are positive in PCR assays for Anaplasma spp. (16S rRNA gene), Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), and Neorickettsia spp. (16S rRNA gene), respectively. Anaplasma spp. and Neorickettsia spp. are detected in one (5.26%) Ornithodoros hasei tick larva. Ehrlichia spp. is detected in 14% of bat flies (represented by Megistopoda aranea, Trichobius costalimai, and Strebla hertigi), 6% of tick larvae (O. hasei), 12% of Spinturnicidae mites (represented by Periglischrus sp., P. torrealbai, and P. acutisternus), and 38% of Macronyssidae mites (Steatonyssuss sp.). The obtained sequences are observed to be similar to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (97.42–97.6% identified), Ehrlichia minasensis (96.73–100% identified), Neorickettsia risticii (96.7–100% identified), and Neorickettsia findlayensis (95.07–100% identified) by BLASTn analyses, and closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium by phylogenetic analyses based on the gltA gene. No bat samples (blood/spleen) are positive in the qPCR assay for C. burnetii based on the IS1111 gene. The present work shows, for the first time, the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae in bats and associated ectoparasites (ticks, mites, and bat flies) from Brazil.
{"title":"Molecular Survey of Anaplasmataceae Agents and Coxiellaceae in Non-Hematophagous Bats and Associated Ectoparasites from Brazil","authors":"P. Ikeda, J. M. Torres, Ana Julia Vidal Placa, V. Mello, E. C. Lourenço, H. M. Herrera, Carina Elisei de Oliveira, C. Hemsley, R. Titball, R. Z. Machado, M. André","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040021","url":null,"abstract":"The Anaplasmataceae family (order Rickettsiales) encompasses obligately intracellular bacteria of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Neorickettsia. Together with Coxiella burnetii (Coxiellaceae family, order Legionellales), these bacteria represent important causative agents of diseases in humans and animals. The scarcity of studies that investigated the occurrence of these agents in bats and their associated ectoparasites, emphasizes the need to achieve a better understanding of the role of these animals in the maintenance of such bacteria. Herein, 418 samples (133 blood, 135 spleen, and 150 ectoparasites) are collected from 135 non-hematophagous bats belonging to 12 species in a periurban area of Campo Grande city, Mato Grosso do Sul state, midwestern Brazil. In the results, 1.65% (7/418), 12.04% (50/418), and 13.63% (57/418) of samples are positive in PCR assays for Anaplasma spp. (16S rRNA gene), Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), and Neorickettsia spp. (16S rRNA gene), respectively. Anaplasma spp. and Neorickettsia spp. are detected in one (5.26%) Ornithodoros hasei tick larva. Ehrlichia spp. is detected in 14% of bat flies (represented by Megistopoda aranea, Trichobius costalimai, and Strebla hertigi), 6% of tick larvae (O. hasei), 12% of Spinturnicidae mites (represented by Periglischrus sp., P. torrealbai, and P. acutisternus), and 38% of Macronyssidae mites (Steatonyssuss sp.). The obtained sequences are observed to be similar to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (97.42–97.6% identified), Ehrlichia minasensis (96.73–100% identified), Neorickettsia risticii (96.7–100% identified), and Neorickettsia findlayensis (95.07–100% identified) by BLASTn analyses, and closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium by phylogenetic analyses based on the gltA gene. No bat samples (blood/spleen) are positive in the qPCR assay for C. burnetii based on the IS1111 gene. The present work shows, for the first time, the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae in bats and associated ectoparasites (ticks, mites, and bat flies) from Brazil.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47164275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-11DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040022
Mukamilliya Aziz, Emir Izad Hashan Arif, Nur Insyirah Muhammad Dimyati, I. Ishak, R. H. Hamdan, S. Syazwan, T. Peng
According to the WHO there are more than 700,000 deaths every year involving vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, Chagas disease, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of the dengue virus, is of great concern in various parts of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Vector control through insecticide application is one of the best ways to control the disease’s transmission. Thus, insecticide resistance in Ae. aegypti poses a significant threat to public health worldwide. The use of plant natural product-based insecticides that are less harmful to the environment, and without known resistance development, constitutes an alternative to chemical insecticides. Given this, a methanolic extract from Vitex ovata plants was prepared and tested for its larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti. A susceptibility test on Ae. aegypti larvae was conducted using the standard WHO method. Results showed that the methanolic extract of V. ovata had larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti with LC50 values of 2114 mg/L, and achieved 84% mortality with the highest concentration at 10,000 mg/L. This study showed that the crude extract of V. ovata bioactive molecules could be potentially developed as biolarvicides for Aedes mosquito vector control. This study recommends future research on using different solvents in the isolation of active ingredients from V. ovata, identification of phytochemicals with larvicidal properties, a toxicity study and lastly, an evaluation of the effectiveness of controlling Aedes in small-scale field trials for environmentally safe botanical insecticide intervention.
{"title":"Larvicidal Effect of Vitex ovata Thunb. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) Leaf Extract towards Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae)","authors":"Mukamilliya Aziz, Emir Izad Hashan Arif, Nur Insyirah Muhammad Dimyati, I. Ishak, R. H. Hamdan, S. Syazwan, T. Peng","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040022","url":null,"abstract":"According to the WHO there are more than 700,000 deaths every year involving vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, Chagas disease, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of the dengue virus, is of great concern in various parts of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Vector control through insecticide application is one of the best ways to control the disease’s transmission. Thus, insecticide resistance in Ae. aegypti poses a significant threat to public health worldwide. The use of plant natural product-based insecticides that are less harmful to the environment, and without known resistance development, constitutes an alternative to chemical insecticides. Given this, a methanolic extract from Vitex ovata plants was prepared and tested for its larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti. A susceptibility test on Ae. aegypti larvae was conducted using the standard WHO method. Results showed that the methanolic extract of V. ovata had larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti with LC50 values of 2114 mg/L, and achieved 84% mortality with the highest concentration at 10,000 mg/L. This study showed that the crude extract of V. ovata bioactive molecules could be potentially developed as biolarvicides for Aedes mosquito vector control. This study recommends future research on using different solvents in the isolation of active ingredients from V. ovata, identification of phytochemicals with larvicidal properties, a toxicity study and lastly, an evaluation of the effectiveness of controlling Aedes in small-scale field trials for environmentally safe botanical insecticide intervention.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46861279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-09-24DOI: 10.3390/parasitologia1040020
M. Rizk, S. El-Sayed, I. Igarashi
Anti-piroplasm drugs currently on the market have proven toxicity to the host and parasite resistance. Plants are possible sources of novel drugs. Subsequently, a novel strategy should be used to find new anti-piroplasm agents that are both effective and safe. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) methanolic extract on the in vitro growth of Babesia (B.) bovis, B. divergens, B. caballi, and Theileria (T.) equi. The in vitro inhibitory effectiveness of turmeric was assessed using a fluorescence test. The enhancement in the in vitro inhibitory efficacy of turmeric when administrated in combination with diminazene aceturate (DA) was investigated using in vitro cultures of different piroplasm parasites. Turmeric reduced the in vitro growth of B. bovis, B. divergens, T. equi, and B. caballi with IC50 values of 0.830 ± 0.078, 0.375 ± 0.055, 1.405 ± 0.575, and 0.720 ± 0.090 mg/mL, respectively. An amount of 1 mg/mL turmeric for B. bovis, 0.5 mg/mL turmeric for B. divergens, 1 mg/mL turmeric for T. equi, and 0.5 mg/mL turmeric for B. caballi exhibited 73.43%, 80.065%, 73.47%, and 47.375% inhibitions in the growth of the parasites, respectively. When turmeric was combined with DA, its in vitro inhibitory impact on bovine Babesia and equine Babesia/Theileria parasites was amplified. These findings show that a methanolic extract of turmeric could be a promising medicinal plant for the treatment of babesiosis, especially when administered in conjunction with DA.
{"title":"Effects of Methanolic Extract from Turmeric (Curcuma longa) against the In Vitro Multiplication of Several Babesia Species and Theileria equi","authors":"M. Rizk, S. El-Sayed, I. Igarashi","doi":"10.3390/parasitologia1040020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040020","url":null,"abstract":"Anti-piroplasm drugs currently on the market have proven toxicity to the host and parasite resistance. Plants are possible sources of novel drugs. Subsequently, a novel strategy should be used to find new anti-piroplasm agents that are both effective and safe. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) methanolic extract on the in vitro growth of Babesia (B.) bovis, B. divergens, B. caballi, and Theileria (T.) equi. The in vitro inhibitory effectiveness of turmeric was assessed using a fluorescence test. The enhancement in the in vitro inhibitory efficacy of turmeric when administrated in combination with diminazene aceturate (DA) was investigated using in vitro cultures of different piroplasm parasites. Turmeric reduced the in vitro growth of B. bovis, B. divergens, T. equi, and B. caballi with IC50 values of 0.830 ± 0.078, 0.375 ± 0.055, 1.405 ± 0.575, and 0.720 ± 0.090 mg/mL, respectively. An amount of 1 mg/mL turmeric for B. bovis, 0.5 mg/mL turmeric for B. divergens, 1 mg/mL turmeric for T. equi, and 0.5 mg/mL turmeric for B. caballi exhibited 73.43%, 80.065%, 73.47%, and 47.375% inhibitions in the growth of the parasites, respectively. When turmeric was combined with DA, its in vitro inhibitory impact on bovine Babesia and equine Babesia/Theileria parasites was amplified. These findings show that a methanolic extract of turmeric could be a promising medicinal plant for the treatment of babesiosis, especially when administered in conjunction with DA.","PeriodicalId":74398,"journal":{"name":"Parasitologia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47986826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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