Gastrointestinal parasite burden in 4th-5th c. CE Florence highlighted by microscopy and paleogenetics

Treatments currently used to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis are non-specific of Toxoplasma gondii and have grievous side effects. To develop a more specific and less toxic drug, we have designed SP230, an imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine salt targeting the Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (TgCDPK1) and active against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. Efficiency of SP230 to inhibit foetal transmission of the parasite was evaluated in a mouse model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Swiss mice were infected at mid-pregnancy with tachyzoites or cysts of the ME49 strain of T. gondii by intraperitoneal and oral route, respectively, and treated with SP230 at 50 mg/kg for 5 days by the same routes. Parasite burden in organs of dams and in foetuses was measured by quantitative PCR. Intraperitoneal administration of SP230 drastically reduced the number of parasites (more than 97% of reduction) in the brain and lungs of dams, and led to a reduction of 66% of parasite burden in foetuses. Oral administration of SP230 was particularly efficient with 97% of reduction of parasite burdens in foetuses. SP230 did not impact number and weight of offspring in our conditions. This inhibitor of TgCDPK1 is a promising candidate for the development of alternative therapeutics to treat infected pregnant women.

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Determinants of lungworm specificity in five cetacean species in the western Mediterranean

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04629-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Pool ◽

Clara Romero-Rubira ◽

Juan Antonio Raga ◽

Mercedes Fernández ◽

Francisco Javier Aznar

Keyword(s):

Bottlenose Dolphins ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Host Size ◽

Cetacean Species ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

Species Similarity ◽

Pilot Whales ◽

Common Dolphins ◽

Prey Overlap

Abstract Background Current data about Pseudaliidae show contrasting patterns of host specificity between congeneric species. We investigated how both contact and compatibility between hosts and parasites contributed to the patterns of lungworm infection observed in a community of five species of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean. Methods The lungs of 119 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 18 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, 7 Risso’s dolphins Grampus griseus, 7 long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas, and 6 common dolphins Delphinus delphis were analysed for lungworms. Parasites were identified by morphology and analysis of ITS2 sequences using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Body length was used as a proxy for lungworm species fitness in different hosts and compared with Kruskal-Wallis tests. Infection parameters were compared between cetacean species using Fisher’s exact tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Phylogenetic specificity was explored by collating the overall lungworm species prevalence values in hosts from previous surveys in various localities. To explore the relative importance of vertical and horizontal transmission, Spearman’s rank correlation was used to look for an association between host size and lungworm burden. A Mantel test was used to explore the association between lungworm species similarity and prey overlap using dietary data. Results Halocercus delphini had higher infection levels in striped dolphins and common dolphins; Stenurus ovatus had higher infection levels in bottlenose dolphins; and Stenurus globicephalae had higher infection levels in long-finned pilot whales. These results are congruent with findings on a global scale. Morphometric comparison showed that the larger nematodes were found in the same host species that had the highest parasite burden. Lungworms were found in neonatal striped dolphins and a Risso’s dolphin, and there was a weak but significant correlation between host size and parasite burden in striped dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. There was also a weak but significant association between prey overlap and lungworm species similarity. Conclusions Data indicate that phylogenetic specificity has an important role in governing host–parasite associations, as indicated by the higher infection levels and larger nematode size in certain hosts. However, diet can also influence infection patterns in these preferred hosts and contribute to less severe infections in other hosts.

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Fecal glucocorticoids and gastrointestinal parasite infections in wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) involved in ecotourism

General and Comparative Endocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113859 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 113859

Author(s):

Kathryn Shutt-Phillips ◽

Barbora Pafčo ◽

Michael Heistermann ◽

Adetayo Kasim ◽

Klára J. Petrželková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gorilla Gorilla ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasite ◽

Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla ◽

Parasite Infections ◽

Western Lowland Gorillas ◽

Fecal Glucocorticoids ◽

Lowland Gorillas

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The Leishmania infantum Acidic Ribosomal Protein P0 Administered as a DNA Vaccine Confers Protective Immunity to Leishmania major Infection in BALB/c Mice

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.71.11.6562-6572.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 71 (11) ◽

pp. 6562-6572 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Salvador Iborra ◽

Manuel Soto ◽

Javier Carrión ◽

Ana Nieto ◽

Edgar Fernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ribosomal Protein ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Immunological Response ◽

Humoral Response ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Immunogenic Properties ◽

Ribosomal Protein P0 ◽

Acidic Ribosomal Protein

ABSTRACT In this study, we examined the immunogenic properties of the Leishmania infantum acidic ribosomal protein P0 (LiP0) in the BALB/c mouse model. The humoral and cellular responses induced by the administration of the LiP0 antigen, either as soluble recombinant LiP0 (rLiP0) or as a plasmid DNA formulation (pcDNA3-LiP0), were determined. Also, the immunological response associated with a prime-boost strategy, consisting of immunization with pcDNA3-LiP0 followed by a boost with rLiP0, was assayed. Immunization with rLiP0 induced a predominant Th2-like humoral response, but no anti-LiP0 antibodies were induced after immunization with pcDNA3-LiP0, whereas a strong humoral response consisting of a mixed immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a)-IgG1 isotype profile was induced in mice immunized with the prime-boost regime. For all three immunization protocols, rLiP0-stimulated production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in both splenocytes and lymph node cells from immunized mice was observed. However, it was only when mice were immunized with pcDNA3-LiP0 that noticeable protection against L. major infection was achieved, as determined by both lesion development and parasite burden. Immunization of mice with LiP0-DNA primes both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which, with the L. major challenge, were boosted to produce significant levels of IL-12-dependent, antigen-specific IFN-γ. Taken together, these data indicate that genetic vaccination with LiP0 induces protective immunological effector mechanisms, yet the immunological response elicited by LiP0 is not sufficient to keep the infection from progressing.

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A sand fly salivary protein acts as a neutrophil chemoattractant

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23002-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anderson B. Guimaraes-Costa ◽

John P. Shannon ◽

Ingrid Waclawiak ◽

Jullyanna Oliveira ◽

Claudio Meneses ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Calcium Influx ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Salivary Protein ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Human Neutrophils ◽

Chemotactic Protein ◽

The Impact

AbstractApart from bacterial formyl peptides or viral chemokine mimicry, a non-vertebrate or insect protein that directly attracts mammalian innate cells such as neutrophils has not been molecularly characterized. Here, we show that members of sand fly yellow salivary proteins induce in vitro chemotaxis of mouse, canine and human neutrophils in transwell migration or EZ-TAXIScan assays. We demonstrate murine neutrophil recruitment in vivo using flow cytometry and two-photon intravital microscopy in Lysozyme-M-eGFP transgenic mice. We establish that the structure of this ~ 45 kDa neutrophil chemotactic protein does not resemble that of known chemokines. This chemoattractant acts through a G-protein-coupled receptor and is dependent on calcium influx. Of significance, this chemoattractant protein enhances lesion pathology (P < 0.0001) and increases parasite burden (P < 0.001) in mice upon co-injection with Leishmania parasites, underlining the impact of the sand fly salivary yellow proteins on disease outcome. These findings show that some arthropod vector-derived factors, such as this chemotactic salivary protein, activate rather than inhibit the host innate immune response, and that pathogens take advantage of these inflammatory responses to establish in the host.

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Topical treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis in golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) with formulations containing pentamidine

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-4392201601333 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 39-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Claudia Dantas COMANDOLLI-WYREPKOWSKI ◽

Iryna GRAFOVA ◽

Maricleide de Farias NAIFF ◽

Maurizio AVELLA ◽

Gennaro GENTILE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Topical Treatment ◽

Usnic Acid ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Experimental Treatment ◽

Mesocricetus Auratus ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Golden Hamsters ◽

Pentamidine Isethionate

ABSTRACT Current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) relies mainly on pentavalent antimonials salts and second-line drugs include pentamidine and amphotericin B, but these therapies have side effects and require parenteral administration. The aim of this work was to evaluate the topical formulations containing pentamidine isethionate (PI) in the experimental treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were infected in the nose with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Six treatment groups received different topical treatments of anhydrous or hydrating emulsions, for a maximum of 10 days, with an application of 50 mg day-1. After treatment tissue samples of lesions were evaluated by histology, transmission electron microscopy and biopsy cultivation. Compared with untreated group, topical treatment with hydrating emulsion with 10% PI and usnic acid (ACE5AU) showed significantly decrease in volume lesion (P= 0.028) on 20th day after the end of the treatment with reduction of 27.37%. Topical treatment with anhydrous emulsion with 10% PI and usnic acid (ACPU) reduces parasite burden in Golden hamsters. This study demonstrated the potential of topical treatment to reduce the number of parasites that could be combined with others drugs and to have a faster and more effective treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

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Neospora caninuminfection in birds: experimental infections in chicken and embryonated eggs

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182007003344 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 134 (14) ◽

pp. 1931-1939 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

P. I. FURUTA ◽

T. W. P. MINEO ◽

A. O. T. CARRASCO ◽

G. S. GODOY ◽

A. A. PINTO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Asymptomatic Infection ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Susceptibility To Infection ◽

Experimental Infections ◽

Inoculum Dose ◽

Specific Igg

SUMMARYNeospora caninumcauses economical impact in cattle-raising farms since it is implicated as the major cause of bovine abortions. Although infection by the parasite has been widely described in mammals, the role of birds in its life-cycle is still obscure. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the infection byN. caninumin different chicken models. Experimental infections were conducted in 7-day-old chicks, laying hens and embryonated eggs, where samples were analysed for parasite burden, IgG antibodies and lesions promoted. Chickens demonstrated an asymptomatic infection, although with seroconversion and systemic replication of the parasite. In laying hens, no signs of vertical transmission were observed. However, embryonated eggs inoculated by the allantoic cavity route demonstrated susceptibility to infection, with mortality rates around 50% independent of the inoculum dose. Additionally, dogs became infected after ingestion of different amounts of inoculated eggs, producing either oocysts or specific IgG antibodies. The results herein presented demonstrate that chickens may be intermediate hosts ofN. caninumand that embryonated eggs could be a useful model to study the parasite's biology.

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Genomic Variation in IbA10G2 and Other Patient-Derived Cryptosporidium hominis Subtypes

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01798-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 844-858 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Per Sikora ◽

Sofia Andersson ◽

Jadwiga Winiecka-Krusnell ◽

Björn Hallström ◽

Cecilia Alsmark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parasite Burden ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Oocyst Wall ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Cryptosporidium Hominis ◽

Content Type ◽

Successful Isolation ◽

Target Dna ◽

Stool Samples

ABSTRACTIn order to improve genotyping and epidemiological analysis ofCryptosporidiumspp., genomic data need to be generated directly from a broad range of clinical specimens. Utilizing a robust method that we developed for the purification and generation of amplified target DNA, we present its application for the successful isolation and whole-genome sequencing of 14 differentCryptosporidium hominispatient specimens. Six isolates of subtype IbA10G2 were analyzed together with a single representative each of 8 other subtypes: IaA20R3, IaA23R3, IbA9G3, IbA13G3, IdA14, IeA11G3T3, IfA12G1, and IkA18G1. Parasite burden was measured over a range of more than 2 orders of magnitude for all samples, while the genomes were sequenced to mean depths of between 17× and 490× coverage. Sequence homology-based functional annotation identified several genes of interest, including the gene encodingCryptosporidiumoocyst wall protein 9 (COWP9), which presented a predicted loss-of-function mutation in all the sequence subtypes, except for that seen with IbA10G2, which has a sequence identical to theCryptosporidium parvumreference Iowa II sequence. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that all the IbA10G2 genomes form a monophyletic clade in theC. hoministree as expected and yet display some heterogeneity within the IbA10G2 subtype. The current report validates the aforementioned method for isolating and sequencingCryptosporidiumdirectly from clinical stool samples. In addition, the analysis demonstrates the potential in mining data generated from sequencing multiple whole genomes ofCryptosporidiumfrom human fecal samples, while alluding to the potential for a higher degree of genotyping withinCryptosporidiumepidemiology.

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