Dirofilaria immitis: Heartworm Products Contract Rat Trachea in Vitro

1994 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Collins ◽  
J.F. Williams ◽  
L. Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Rat Trachea

scholarly journals A rapid, parasite-dependent cellular response to Dirofilaria immitis in the Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus)

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Evans ◽  
Katherine M. Day ◽  
Yi Chu ◽  
Bridget Garner ◽  
Kaori Sakamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Response ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Cell Attachment ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Filarial Parasite ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Secretory Products ◽  
Species Specific

Abstract Background The Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus) has long been recognized as a permissive host for the filarial parasite Brugia malayi; however, it is nonpermissive to another filarial parasite, canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis). By elucidating differences in the early response to infection, we sought to identify mechanisms involved in the species-specific clearance of these parasites. We hypothesized that the early clearance of D. immitis in intraperitoneal infection of the jird is immune mediated and parasite species dependent. Methods Jird peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) were isolated and their attachment to parasite larvae assessed in vitro under various conditions: D. immitis and B. malayi cultured separately, co-culture of both parasites, incubation before addition of cells, culture of heat-killed parasites, and culture with PECs isolated from jirds with mature B. malayi infection. The cells attaching to larvae were identified by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro cell attachment to live D. immitis was high (mean = 99.6%) while much lower for B. malayi (mean = 5.56%). This species-specific attachment was also observed when both filarial species were co-cultured, with no significant change from controls (U(9, 14) = 58.5, p = 0.999). When we replicated these experiments with PECs derived from jirds subcutaneously infected with B. malayi, the results were similar (99.4% and 4.72% of D. immitis and B. malayi, respectively, exhibited cell attachment). Heat-killing the parasites significantly reduced cell attachment to D. immitis (mean = 71.9%; U(11, 14) = 7.5, p < 0.001) while increasing attachment to B. malayi (mean = 16.7%; U(9, 15) = 20, p = 0.002). Cell attachment to both species was reduced when larvae were allowed a 24-h pre-incubation period prior to the addition of cells. The attaching cells were identified as macrophages by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions These results suggest a strongly species-dependent response from which B. malayi could not confer protection by proxy in co-culture. The changes in cell attachment following heat-killing and pre-incubation suggest a role for excretory/secretory products in host immune evasion and/or antigenicity. The nature of this attachment is the subject of ongoing study and may provide insight into filarial host specificity.

The effect of catecholamines and catecholamine antagonists on the third larval moult of Dirofilaria immitis in vitro

1992 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Warbrick ◽  
S. A. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Parasitic Nematode ◽  
The Third ◽  
Adrenergic Antagonist ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Larval Moult

ABSTRACTVarious catecholamines and catecholamine antagonists have been examined for their effects on the third larval moult of the parasitic nematode, Dirofilaria immitis, cultured in vitro. The non-selective α and β agonist, noradrenaline, and the β agonist, isoprenaline, had no effect on the timing of the third stage moult when used at a concentration of 10−5M. The α-adrenergic antagonist. phentolamine, resulted in worm mortality at 10−5M. At 10−7M, both phentolamine and the β-antagonist, propranolol caused a significant reduction in the numbers of larvae capable of completing the third stage moult. Idazoxan, an a2-antagonist, at 10−5M did not affect worm mortality but did completely prevent ecdysis. The potential of these compounds as possible filaricides is discussed.

scholarly journals Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis coinfection in dogs in Greece

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
PANTELIS NTAIS ◽  
VASILIKI CHRISTODOULOU ◽  
EMMANOUIL DOKIANAKIS ◽  
MARIA ANTONIOU
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Immunological Methods ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Survival Potential ◽  
Knott’S Test

SUMMARYLeishmaniasis and dirofilariasis are parasitic diseases of humans and dogs, worldwide, and they are often found as coinfections in endemic areas. Cases of human and canine dirofilariasis have being reported in Greece and leishmaniasis is endemic in most prefectures in humans and dogs. In most cases, dirofilariasis is established by parasitological (the modified Knott's test) and/or immunological methods, whilst for leishmaniasis molecular techniques and culture are also used. During an epidemiological study in Greece, 22·1% of the 5772 dogs studied were found positive by serology forLeishmania.Blood cultures of 165 (12·94%) of these animals producedLeishmaniapromastigotes and 26 (2·03%)Dirofilariamicrofilariae (L1), whilst only in two (0·16%) bothLeishmaniaandDirofilariaL1 appeared. The aim was to assess coinfections by the two parasites in dogs in Greece, the isolation and survival ofDirofilariamicrofilariae andLeishmaniapromastigotes using clotted blood (a fast, simple and low-cost method) and the survival potential of the two parasites in coexistence,in vitro.

In vitro Culture of Dirofilaria immitis Third- and Fourth-Stage Larvae under Defined Conditions

1987 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Abraham ◽  
Meisen Mok ◽  
Marcia Mika-Grieve ◽  
Robert B. Grieve
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Culture ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Fourth Stage

Ivermectin-Induced Hypertrophic Changes in Adult Canine Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) Gut Epithelium

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1144-1145
Author(s):  
W. L. Steffens ◽  
J. W. McCall
Keyword(s):  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Muscle Paralysis ◽  
Somatic Muscle ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Gut Epithelium ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
And Control ◽  
Hypertrophic Changes

Ivermectin is a drug widely utilized for its anthelminthic activity over a diverse range of animal parasites. It has proved to be particularly useful in the prophylaxis of infection by the heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs and cats. Although its application in this respect has been as a filaricide in preventing early growth and maturation of naturally acquired larvae, it is known to have activity against young adults as well. Previous studies have shown that in vitro exposure to ivermectin induces somatic muscle paralysis in the nematode Haemonchus contortus, resulting in pharyngeal dysfunction and disruption of normal ingestion. Experiments were performed to determine the effect of in vivo exposure of adult canine heartworms to this drug.Adult heartworms were harvested from groups of dogs treated monthly with ivermectin beginning four to five months after inoculation of infective larvae and from untreated control dogs. Live worms from both experimental and control dogs were fixed, embedded, and sectioned for conventional transmission electron microscopy.

External monitoring of 203Hg-labelled Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in mice and dogs

Parasitology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. W. Lengemann ◽  
R. B. Grieve ◽  
M. Chmielewicz ◽  
F. A. Kallfelz ◽  
J. R. Georgi
Keyword(s):  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Half Time ◽  
Beagle Dogs ◽  
External Monitoring

SUMMARYMicrofilariae of Dirofliaria immitis were labelled with 203Hg 2+in vitro and injected into irradiated mice and Beagle dogs. With irradiated mice it was possible to demonstrate microfilariae present in the blood and to detect 203Hg by external counting as long as 28 days after dosing. The 203Hg 2+ label had a half-time of 4–5 days; the amount of stable mercury in the labelling medium strongly influenced the survival of microfilariae in vivo. In dogs, external counting showed the lungs to be a major location of the microfilariae soon after reinjection into the host. Evidence was obtained that labelled microfilariae can circulate; however, the detection of dispersed microfilariae is difficult because of the relative insensitivity of the detecting system. For radiomercury the accumulation of the inorganic form in the liver and kidneys limits the long-term usefulness of 203Hg 2+ as a label if the organism being studied also accumulates in these organs.

Activation in vitro of some biological systems by extracts of adult worms and microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis

1984 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.F.L. Boreham
Keyword(s):  
Mast Cells ◽  
Vascular Permeability ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Adverse Drug Reactions ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Drug Reactions ◽  
Rat Mesentery

ABSTRACTExtracts of Dirofilaria immitis adults and microfilariae cause the dcgranulation of mast cells in rat mesentery when applied in vitro and also cause increased vascular permeability in guinea-pigs and rabbits. Adult worms DUt not microfilariac are able to activate complement in vitro and both stages contain a plasminogen activator. No protcolytic activity or hacmolysins could be detected in cither stage. The possibility that these factors may be important in the pathogencsis of dirofilariasis and in the adverse drug reactions that may follow treatment of microfilaraemic animals with dicthylcarbamazine is discussed.

Role of 5-hydroxytryptamine and mast cells in the tachykinin-induced contraction of rat trachea in vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 338 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy F Joos ◽  
Romain A Lefebvre ◽  
Gillian R Bullock ◽  
Romain A Pauwels
Keyword(s):  
Mast Cells ◽  
Rat Trachea
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